Moffatt(i)
22 But a slave who is called to be in the Lord is a freedman of the Lord. Just as a free man who is called is a slave of Christ
23 (for you were bought for a price; you must not turn slaves to any man).
24 Brothers, everyone must remain with God in the condition of life where he was called.
25 I have no orders from the Lord for unmarried women, but I will give you the opinion of one whom you can trust, after all the Lord's mercy to him.
26 Well, what I think is this: that, considering the imminent distress in these days, it would be an excellent plan for you to remain just as you are.
27 Are you tied to a wife? Never try to untie the knot. Are you free? Never try to get married.
28 Of course, if you are actually married, there is no sin in that; and if a maid marries, there is no sin in that. (At the same time those who marry will have outward trouble — and I would spare you that.)
29 I mean, brothers, — the interval has been shortened; so let those who have wives live as if they had none,
30 let mourners live as if they were not mourning, let the joyful live as if they had no joy, let buyers live as if they had no hold on their goods,
31 let those who mix in the world live as if they were not engrossed in it, for the present phase of things is passing away.
32 I want you to be free from all anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the Lord's affairs, how best to satisfy the Lord;
33 the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how best to satisfy his wife —
34 so he is torn in two directions. The unmarried woman or the maid is also anxious about the Lord's affairs, how to be consecrated, body and spirit; once married, she is anxious about worldly affairs, how best to satisfy her husband.
35 I am saying this in your own interests. Not that I want to restrict your freedom. It is only to secure decorum and concentration upon a life of devotion to the Lord.
36 At the same time, if any man considers he is not behaving properly to the maid who is his spiritual bride, if his passions are strong and if it must be so, then let him do what he wants — let them be married; it is no sin for him.
37 But the man of firm purpose who has made up his mind, who, instead of being forced against his will, has determined to himself to keep his maid a spiritual bride — that man will be doing the right thing.
38 Thus both are right alike in marrying and in refraining from marriage, but he who does not marry will be found to have done better.
39 A woman is bound to her husband during his lifetime; but if he dies, she is free to marry anyone she pleases — only, it must be a Christian.
40 However, she is happier if she remains as she is; that is my opinion — and I suppose I have the Spirit of God as well as other people!