1 Corinthians 7:25–40 — Suggestions about the unmarried and about widows

The OET Readers’ Version is designed to be read alongside the Literal Version. Expand the matching Literal Version beneath each passage. This is still an early look into the drafted text of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check the text in advance before using in public.

1 Cor 7:25–40

7:25 Suggestions about the unmarried and about widows

25 Now concerning unmarried women, I don’t have instructions from Yahweh but I’ll give my opinions as someone who’s trustworthy thanks to Yahweh’s mercy.

26 Therefore, I think it’s good because of the distress that’s about to come, that people should stay as they are currently. 27 If you’re married, then don’t try to get out of it. If you’re not committed, don’t look for a spouse. 28 But if a single guy or single girl get married, that’s not a sin, but they’ll likely face difficult circumstances and I’m trying to spare you from that.

29 But brothers and sisters, I will say this: the time is short, so from now on, even those who are married should live as if they’re not. 30 Those who are mourning should act as if they’re not, those who are celebrating should act as if they’re not, and those who are buying act as if they don’t own anything, 31 and those who are using this world, as if they’re not using it, because the present form of this world will soon pass away.

32 But I’d like you to be free from concern. Single men are concerned about things of the master—pleasing the master—33 but married men are concerned about worldly affairs—wanting to please their wives—so they’re divided. And unmarried or single women 34 are concerning about things of the master—so that both their bodies and their spirits can be separate from the world—but married women are concerned about worldly affairs—wanting to please their husbands.

35 Now I said all that for your benefit—not to load you all with rules, but to act in ways that are appropriate and devoted to the master without any distractions.

36 However, if a man thinks he’s made the wrong decisions about his unmarried woman,[fn] if she’s reached the age of marriage and it should proceed, then he should do what he planned—he’s not sinning—they should get married. 37 But if the man has made up his mind and isn’t forced, but makes his own decision, and he’s firmly decided to keep his own woman unmarried, then that would also be a good decision. 38 That way, anyone allowing his unmarried woman to marry does well, but anyone who doesn’t, makes a better decision.

39 A wife is committed to her husband as long as he lives, but if he passes away, she’s free to marry anyone she wants to, as long as he’s a believer. 40 However, in my opinion, she’d be happier if she didn’t marry again, and I think it’s God’s spirit that wants me to say that.

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Read the Literal Version in context

25 And concerning the virgins, a_command of_the_master not I _am _having, but opinion I _am _giving, as having _been _shown _mercy by the_master, trustworthy to _be.

26 Therefore I _am _thinking this good to _be _being because _of the having _presented necessity, that good it _is for_a_man which thus to _be.

27 You _have _been _bound to_a_wife?
Not be _seeking divorced.
You _have _been _untied/released from a_wife?
Not be _seeking a_wife.

28 But if also you _may _marry, not you _sinned.
And if may _marry the virgin, not she _sinned.
But tribulation in _the flesh will _be _having the such, and I from _you _all am _sparing.

29 But this I _am _saying, brothers, the season having _been _shortened is.
For/Because _the rest, in _order _that even the ones having wives, as not having may _be,

30 and the ones weeping, as not weeping, and the ones rejoicing, as not rejoicing, and the ones buying, as not keeping,

31 and the ones using the world, as not excessively _using it, because/for is _passing _away the form of_ the _world this.

32 But I _am _wanting you _all unanxious to _be.
The unmarried is _caring _for the things of _the master, how he _may _bring _pleasure to _the master,

33 but the one having _married is _caring _for the things of _the world, how he _may _bring _pleasure to _the wife, and has _been _divided.
Both the woman the unmarried and the virgin

34 the unmarried is _caring _for the things of _the master, in _order _that she _may _be holy, both in _the body and the spirit, but the woman having _married is _caring _for the things of _the world, how she _may _bring _pleasure to _the husband.

35 And this for the thing of _you _all yourselves benefit I _am _saying, not in _order _that a_noose on _you _all I _may _put _on, but for what is proper and devoted to _the master undistractedly.

36 But if anyone to _be _dishonouring to the virgin of _him is _thinking, if she _may _be beyond _marriable _age and thus it _ought to _be _becoming, what he _is _willing him _let _be _doing, not is _sinning, them _let _be _marrying.

37 But he _who has _stood in the heart of _him firm, not having necessity, and authority is _having concerning his own will, and this has _judged in his own heart, to _be _keeping the of _himself virgin, well will _be _doing.

38 So _that both the one betrothing the of _himself virgin, well is _doing, and the one not betrothing, better will _be _doing.

39 A_wife has _been _bound for as _long _as time is _living the husband of _her, but if may _be _fallen _asleep the husband, free she _is to _whom she _is _willing to _be _married, only in the_master.

40 But more _blessed she _is, if thus she _may _remain, according _to the my opinion, and am _supposing also _I, the_spirit of_god to _be _having.

7:36-38 Yes, ‘his unmarried woman’ sounds strange, but it’s not certain here (and in the next two verses) if Paul is writing about a father and his unmarried daughter who’s engaged, or about an engaged man deciding about his fiancée.

OET-RV by cross-referenced section 1 COR 7:25

Suggestions about the unmarried and about widows

1 Cor 7:25–40

OET-RV by cross-referenced section 1 COR 7:25

1 Cor 7:25–40