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.

Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

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

and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3 They all ate the same spiritual food

and all ate 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 all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.

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

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

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

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did.

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.”

So 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.”

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

We must not commit fornication as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand of them died.

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

We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were killed by serpents.

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

And do not grumble as some of them did and were killed 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 these things happened to them as examples, and they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. (aiōn g165)

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

Therefore whoever thinks he stands must 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.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you can endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Therefore, my beloved friends, flee from idolatry.

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

I am speaking as I would to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying.

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?

Is not the cup of blessing that we bless the communion of the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break the communion of the body of Christ?

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

Because we, who are many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

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

Consider those who belong to Israel according to the flesh: Are they not united by eating the sacrifices of the altar?

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

What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or that food sacrificed to an 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.

No, I am saying that what the pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants 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 both the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in both the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

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

Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is?

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

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things edify.

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

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

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

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, questioning nothing for the sake of conscience,

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

for “the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.”

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 one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is set before you, questioning nothing 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 someone says to you, “This meat was sacrificed to an idol,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; for “the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.”

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

But when I say “conscience,” I am not speaking about yoʋr own conscience, but the other person's conscience. For why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?

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 thankfulness, why should I be criticized because of something for which I give thanks?

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

So whether you eat or drink or do anything, do it all for the glory of God.

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

Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or 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 try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.