To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.

(He had four unmarried ¹  daughters who prophesied.) ² 

And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

(but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.

and he is divided. An unmarried woman ¹  or a virgin ²  is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.

“‘They must not come near a dead person or they will be defiled; ¹  however, for father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister, they may defile themselves.

and his virgin sister who is near to him, ¹  who has no husband; he may defile himself for her.

The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. ¹ 

Fire consumed their ¹  young men, and their ²  virgins remained unmarried. ³ 

Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” ¹ 

surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry! ¹  Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! ²  No, ³  my daughters, you must not return with me. ⁴  For my intense suffering ⁵  is too much for you to bear. ⁶  For the Lord is afflicting me!” ⁷ 

Now the young woman was very beautiful. She was a virgin; no man had ever had sexual relations with her. ¹  She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up.

For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. ¹  Look, this ²  young woman ³  is about to conceive ⁴  and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him ⁵  Immanuel. ⁶ 

So then, the one who marries ¹  his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better. ² 

But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, ¹  and I am trying to spare you such problems. ² 

Look, I have two daughters who have never had sexual relations with ¹  a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do to them whatever you please. ²  Only don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection ³  of my roof.” ⁴ 

Seven women will grab hold of one man at that time. ¹  They will say, “We will provide ²  our own food, we will provide ³  our own clothes; but let us belong to you ⁴  – take away our shame!” ⁵