21. If you were a slave when God called you, do not let that bother you. But if you can be free, then make good use of your freedom.
22. Those who were slaves when the Lord called them are free persons who belong to the Lord. In the same way, those who were free when they were called are now Christ’s slaves.
23. You all were bought at a great price, so do not become slaves of people.
24. Brothers and sisters, each of you should stay as you were when you were called, and stay there with God.
25. Now I write about people who are not married. I have no command from the Lord about this; I give my opinion. But I can be trusted, because the Lord has shown me mercy.
26. The present time is a time of trouble, so I think it is good for you to stay the way you are.
27. If you have a wife, do not try to become free from her. If you are not married, do not try to find a wife.
28. But if you decide to marry, you have not sinned. And if a girl who has never married decides to marry, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have trouble in this life, and I want you to be free from trouble.
29. Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: We do not have much time left. So starting now, those who have wives should live as if they had no wives.
30. Those who are crying should live as if they were not crying. Those who are happy should live as if they were not happy. Those who buy things should live as if they own nothing.
31. Those who use the things of the world should live as if they were not using them, because this world in its present form will soon be gone.
32. I want you to be free from worry. A man who is not married is busy with the Lord’s work, trying to please the Lord.
33. But a man who is married is busy with things of the world, trying to please his wife.
34. He 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 be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is busy with things of the world, as to how she can please her husband.
35. I am saying this to help you, not to limit you. But I want you to live in the right way, to give yourselves fully to the Lord without concern for other things.