1 Corinthians 7:25-40 : Easy-to-Read Version
Questions About Getting Married
7 25Now I write about people who are not married.* I have no command from the Lord about this. But I give my opinion. And I can be trusted, because the Lord has given me mercy. 26This is a time of trouble. So I think that it is good for you to stay the way you are (not married). 27If you have a wife, then don't try to become free from her. If you are not married, then don't try to find a wife. 28But if you decide to marry, that is not a sin. And it is not a sin for a girl that has never married to get married. But those people who marry will have trouble in this life. I want you to be free from this trouble. 29Brothers [and sisters], this is what I mean: We don't have much time left. So starting now, people who have wives should use their time [to serve the Lord] like they don't have wives. 30People who are sad should live like they are not sad. People who are happy should live like they are not happy. People who buy things should live like they own nothing. 31People who use the things of the world should live like those things are not important to them. You should live like this, because this world, the way it is now, will soon be gone. 32I want you to be free from worry. A man who is not married is busy with the Lord's work. He is trying to please the Lord. 33But a man who is married is busy with things of the world. He is trying to please his wife. 34He must think about two things--[pleasing his wife and pleasing the Lord]. A woman who is not married or a girl who has never married is busy with the Lord's work. She wants to give herself fully--body and soul--to the Lord. But a married woman is busy with things of the world. She is trying to please her husband. 35I am saying these things to help you. I am not trying to limit you. But I want you to live in the right way. And I want you to give yourselves fully to the Lord without giving your time to other things. 36A man might think that he is not doing the right thing with his virgin* [daughter] if she is almost past the best age to marry. So he might think that marriage is necessary. He should do what he wants. He should let them marry. It is no sin. 37But another man might be more sure in his mind. There may be no need for marriage, so that he is free to do what he wants. If this person has decided in his own heart to keep his virgin [unmarried], then he is doing the right thing. 38So the person who gives his virgin [daughter] in marriage does right. And the person who does not give his virgin [daughter] in marriage does better.* 39A woman must stay with her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, the woman is free to marry any man she wants. But she must marry in the Lord. 40The woman is happier if she does not marry again. This is my opinion, and I believe that I have God's Spirit.
people who are not married Literally, "virgins." virgin A pure girl who is not married. verses 36-38 Another possible translation is: "36A person might think that he is not doing the right thing with his virgin {(the girl he is engaged to)}. The girl might be almost past the best age to marry. So the man might feel that he should marry her. He should do what he wants. They should get married. It is no sin. 37But another person might be more sure in his mind. There may be no need for marriage, so he is free to do what he wants. If this person has decided in his own heart to keep his virgin {unmarried}, then he is doing the right thing. 38So the person who marries his virgin does right. And the person who does not marry does better."