1 Corinthians 10

1 For it is my desire, my brothers, that you may keep in mind how all our fathers were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea;

For I would have you remember, brethren, how our forefathers were all of them sheltered by the cloud, and all got safely through the Red Sea.

2 And they all had baptism from Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

All were baptized in the cloud and in the sea to be followers of Moses.

3 And they all took the same holy food;

All ate the same spiritual food,

4 And the same holy drink: for they all took of the water from the holy rock which came after them: and the rock was Christ.

and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they long drank the water that flowed from the spiritual rock that went with them--and that rock was the Christ.

5 But with most of them God was not pleased: for they came to their end in the waste land.

But with most of them God was not well pleased; for they were laid low in the Desert.

6 Now these things were for an example to us, so that our hearts might not go after evil things, as they did.

And in this they became a warning to us, to teach us not to be eager, as they were eager, in pursuit of what is evil.

7 Then do not go after false gods, as some of them did; as it is said in the holy Writings, After resting and feasting, the people got up to take their pleasure.

And you must not be worshippers of idols, as some of them were. For it is written, "The People sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to dance."

8 Again, let us not give way to the desires of the flesh, as some of them did, of whom twenty-three thousand came to their end in one day.

Nor may we be fornicators, like some of them who committed fornication and on a single day 23,000 of them fell dead.

9 And let us not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and came to their death by snakes.

And do not let us test the Lord too far, as some of them tested Him and were destroyed by the serpents.

10 And do not say evil things against the Lord, as some of them did, and destruction overtook them.

And do not be discontented, as some of them were, and they were destroyed by the Destroyer.

11 Now these things were done as an example; and were put down in writing for our teaching, on whom the last days have come. (aiōn g165)

All this kept happening to them with a figurative meaning; but it was put on record by way of admonition to us upon whom the ends of the Ages have come. (aiōn g165)

12 So let him who seems to himself to be safe go in fear of a fall.

So then let him who thinks he is standing securely beware of falling.

13 You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.

No temptation has you in its power but such as is common to human nature; and God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. But, when the temptation comes, He will also provide the way of escape; so that you may be able to bear it.

14 For this cause, my dear brothers, give no worship to false gods.

Therefore, my dear friends, avoid all connection with the worship of idols.

15 What I am saying is for wise men, do you be the judges of it.

I speak as to men of sense: judge for yourselves of what I say.

16 The cup of blessing which we take, does it not give us a part in the blood of Christ? and is not the broken bread a taking part in the body of Christ?

The cup of blessing, which we bless, does it not mean a joint-participation in the blood of Christ? The loaf of bread which we break, does it not mean a joint-participation in the body of Christ?

17 Because we, being a number of persons, are one bread, we are one body: for we all take part in the one bread.

Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; we, all of us, share in that one loaf.

18 See Israel after the flesh: do not those who take as food the offerings of the altar take a part in the altar?

Look at the Israelites--the nation and their ritual. Are not those who eat the sacrifices joint-partakers in the altar?

19 Do I say, then, that what is offered to images is anything, or that the image is anything?

Do I mean that a thing sacrificed to an idol is what it claims to be, or that an idol is a real thing?

20 What I say is that the things offered by the Gentiles are offered to evil spirits and not to God; and it is not my desire for you to have any part with evil spirits.

No, but that which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, not to God; and I would not have you have fellowship with one another through the demons.

21 It is not possible for you, at the same time, to take the cup of the Lord and the cup of evil spirits; you may not take part in the table of the Lord and the table of evil spirits.

You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons: you cannot be joint-partakers both in the table of the Lord and in the table of demons.

22 Or may we be the cause of envy to the Lord? are we stronger than he?

Or are we actually arousing the Lord to jealousy. Are we stronger than He is?

23 We are free to do all things, but there are things which it is not wise to do. We are free to do all things, but not all things are for the common good.

Everything is allowable, but not everything is profitable. Everything is allowable, but everything does not build others up.

24 Let a man give attention not only to what is good for himself, but equally to his neighbour's good.

Let no one be for ever seeking his own good, but let each seek that of his fellow man.

25 Whatever meat may be had at the public market, take as food without question of right or wrong;

Anything that is for sale in the meat market, eat, and ask no questions for conscience' sake;

26 For the earth is the Lord's and all things in it.

for the earth is the Lord's, and all that it contains.

27 If a Gentile makes a feast for you, and you are pleased to go as a guest, take whatever is put before you, without question of right or wrong.

If an unbeliever gives you an invitation and you are disposed to accept it, eat whatever is put before you, and ask no questions for conscience' sake.

28 But if anyone says to you, This food has been used as an offering, do not take it, on account of him who said it, and on account of his sense of right and wrong:

But if any one tells you, "This food has been offered in sacrifice;" abstain from eating it--out of respect for him who warned you, and, as before, for conscience' sake.

29 Right and wrong, I say, not for you, but for the other man; for the fact that I am free is not dependent on another man's sense of right or wrong.

But now I mean his conscience, not your own. "Why, on what ground," you may object, "is the question of my liberty of action to be decided by a conscience not my own?

30 But if I give praise to God for the food which I take, let no man say evil of me for that reason.

If, so far as I am concerned, I partake with a grateful heart, why am I to be found fault with in regard to a thing for which I give thanks?"

31 So then, if it is a question of food or drink, or any other thing, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Whether, then, you are eating or drinking, or whatever you are doing, let everything be done to the glory of God.

32 Give no cause of trouble to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God.

Do not be causes of stumbling either to Jews or to Gentiles, nor to the Church of God.

33 Even as I give way to all men in all things, not looking for profit for myself, but for the good of others, that they may get salvation.

That is the way that I also seek in everything the approval of all men, not aiming at my own profit, but at that of the many, in the hope that they may be saved.