1 Corinthians 10

1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.

For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and they all went across the sea.

2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

And in Moses, they all were baptized, in the cloud and in the sea.

3 They all ate the same spiritual food

And they all ate of the same spiritual food.

4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

And they all drank of the same spiritual drink. And so, they all were drinking of the spiritual rock seeking to obtain them; and that rock was Christ.

5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

But with most of them, God was not well-pleased. For they were struck down in the desert.

6 These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.

Now these things were done as an example for us, so that we might not desire evil things, just as they desired.

7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.”

And so, do not take part in idolatry, as some of them did, just as it was written: “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and then they rose up to amuse themselves.”

8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

And let us not commit fornication, as some of them fornicated, and so twenty-three thousand fell on one day.

9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.

And let us not tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and so they perished by serpents.

10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

And you should not murmur, as some of them murmured, and so they perished by the destroyer.

11 Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. (aiōn g165)

Now all of these things happened to them as an example, and so they have been written for our correction, because the final age has fallen upon us. (aiōn g165)

12 So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.

And so, whosoever considers himself to be standing, let him be careful not to fall.

13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Temptation should not take hold of you, except what is human. For God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your ability. Instead, he will effect his Providence, even during temptation, so that you may be able to bear it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Because of this, most beloved of mine, flee from the worship of idols.

15 I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.

Since I am speaking to those who are prudent, judge what I say for yourselves.

16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

The cup of benediction that we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ? And the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of the Lord?

17 Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

Through the one bread, we, though many, are one body: all of us who are partakers of the one bread.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?

Consider Israel, according to the flesh. Are not those who eat from the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

19 Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?

What is next? Should I say that what is immolated to idols is anything? Or that the idol is anything?

20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

But the things that the Gentiles immolate, they immolate to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to become partakers with demons.

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and partakers of the table of demons.

22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Or should we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient.

23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.

All is lawful to me, but not all is edifying.

24 No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Let no one seek for himself, but for others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,

Whatever is sold in the market, you may eat, without asking questions for the sake of conscience.

26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

“The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord.”

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

If you are invited by any unbelievers, and you are willing to go, you may eat whatever is set before you, without asking questions for the sake of conscience.

28 But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—

But if anyone says, “This has been sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience.

29 the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?

But I am referring to the conscience of the other person, not to yours. For why should my liberty be judged by the conscience of another?

30 If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

If I partake with thanksgiving, why should I be slandered over that for which I give thanks?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you may do, do everything for the glory of God.

32 Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—

Be without offense toward the Jews, and toward the Gentiles, and toward the Church of God,

33 as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

just as I also, in all things, please everyone, not seeking what is best for myself, but what is best for many others, so that they may be saved.