1 Corinthians 10

1 For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.

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

2 And all in Moses were baptized, in the cloud, and in the sea:

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

3 And did all eat the same spiritual food,

and all ate the same spiritual food.

4 And all drank the same spiritual drink; (and they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.)

All drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.

5 But with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the desert.

But God was not well pleased with most of them, and their corpses were scattered about in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were done in a figure of us, that we should not covet evil things as they also coveted.

Now these things were examples for us, so we would not long for evil things as they did.

7 Neither become ye idolaters, as some of them, as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

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

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and there fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Let us not commit sexual immorality, as many of them did. In one day, twenty-three thousand people died because of it.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ: as some of them tempted, and perished by the serpents.

Neither let us put Christ to the test, as many of them did and were destroyed by snakes.

10 Neither do you murmur: as some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Also do not grumble, as many of them did and were destroyed by an angel of death.

11 Now all these things happened to them in figure: and they are written for our correction, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (aiōn g165)

Now these things happened to them as examples for us. They were written for our instruction—for us on whom the end of the ages has come. (aiōn g165)

12 Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall.

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

13 Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to all humanity. Instead, God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. With the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, fly from the service of idols.

Therefore, my loved ones, run away from idolatry.

15 I speak as to wise men: judge ye yourselves what I say.

I speak to you as people who have understanding, so you may judge what I say.

16 The chalice of benediction, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? And the bread, which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord?

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?

17 For we, being many, are one bread, one body, all that partake of one bread.

Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body. We all take of one loaf of bread together.

18 Behold Israel according to the flesh: are not they, that eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar?

Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

19 What then? Do I say, that what is offered in sacrifice to idols, is any thing? Or, that the idol is any thing?

What am I saying then? That an idol is anything? Or that food sacrificed to an idol is anything?

20 But the things which the heathens sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God. And I would not that you should be made partakers with devils.

But I say about the things the Gentile pagans sacrifice, that they offer these things to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!

21 You cannot drink the chalice of the Lord, and the chalice of devils: you cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of devils.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot have fellowship at the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.

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

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify.

“Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds people up.

24 Let no man seek his own, but that which is another’s.

No one should seek his own good. Instead, each one should seek the good of his neighbor.

25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat; asking no question for conscience’ sake.

You may eat whatever is sold in the market, without questions of conscience.

26 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it.”

27 If any of them that believe not, invite you, and you will be willing to go; eat of any thing that is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

If an unbeliever invites you to eat a meal, and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you without asking questions of conscience.

28 But if any man say: This has been sacrificed to idols, do not eat of it for his sake that told it, and for conscience’ sake.

But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—

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

the conscience of the other man, I mean, and not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?

30 If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?

If I partake of the meal with gratitude, why am I being insulted for that for which I gave thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Be without offence to the Jews, and to the Gentiles, and to the church of God:

Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks, or to the church of God.

33 As I also in all things please all men, not seeking that which is profitable to myself, but to many, that may be saved.

I try to please all people in all things. I do not seek my benefit, but that of the many. I do this so that they may be saved.