18. Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.
20. Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.
21. Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22. For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.
23. You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.
24. Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
25. Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.
26. I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.
27. Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28. But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.
29. This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;
30. And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31. And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.