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 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;

2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

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

3 and all ate the same spiritual food;

And they all took the same holy 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 the same holy drink: for they all took of the water from the holy rock which came after them: and the rock was 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 pleased: for they came to their end in the waste land.

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

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

7 Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."

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.

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

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.

9 Neither let us test the Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.

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

10 Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.

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

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

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)

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

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

13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to humanity. 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.

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.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

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

18 Consider Israel according to the flesh. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?

See Israel after the flesh: do not those who take as food the offerings of the altar take a part 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 say, then, that what is offered to images is anything, or that the image is anything?

20 But I say that the things which pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I do not desire that you would have fellowship with demons.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

23 "All things are lawful," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.

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.

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

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

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

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

26 for "the earth is the Lord's, and its fullness."

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

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 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.

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.

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:

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

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.

30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for that for which I give thanks?

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

31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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.

32 Give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God;

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

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

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.