32. So I don’t want you to have any concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, ⌊that is,⌋ about how he can please the Lord.
33. But the married man is concerned about earthly things, ⌊that is,⌋ about how he can please his wife.
34. His attention is divided.An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s things so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about earthly things, ⌊that is,⌋ about how she can please her husband.
35. I’m saying this for your benefit, not to restrict you. I’m showing you how to live a noble life of devotion to the Lord without being distracted by other things.
36. No father would want to do the wrong thing when his virgin daughter is old enough to get married. If she wants to get married, he isn’t sinning by letting her get married.
37. However, a father may have come to a decision about his daughter. If his decision is to keep her ⌊at home⌋ because she doesn’t want to get married, that’s fine.
38. So it’s fine for a father to give his daughter in marriage, but the father who doesn’t give his daughter in marriage does even better.
39. A married woman must remain with her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if the man is a Christian.
40. However, she will be more blessed if she stays as she is. That is my opinion, and I think that I, too, have God’s Spirit.