1 Corinthians 10

1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed 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 were all baptized into 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 all ate the same spiritual food;

All ate the same spiritual food,

4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed 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 However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

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

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

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 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

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 Let’s not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell.

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

9 Let’s not test Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.

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

10 Do not grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.

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

11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages (aiōn g165) have come.

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 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall.

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

13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure 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 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

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

15 I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say.

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

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is not it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is not it a sharing of 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 there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.

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

18 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate 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 What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol 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 But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not desire that you would have fellowship with demons.

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 You cannot both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot both partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.

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 do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

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

23 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.

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

24 Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.

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

25 Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience,

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 its fullness.”

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

27 But if one of those who do not believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience.

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 was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, with all its fullness.”

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 Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other’s conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

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 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for something I give thanks for?

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 Whether therefore you eat or drink, or 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 occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;

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

33 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

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.