17. However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.
18. Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.
19. Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God’s commands does.
20. Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called.
21. Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.
22. For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave.
23. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24. Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called.
25. About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26. Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine for a man to remain as he is.
27. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28. However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.
29. And I say this, brothers: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,
30. those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,
31. and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.
32. I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord — how he may please the Lord.