1 Corinthians 10

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

For I would not have you ignorant, brothers, how our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

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

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

3 and did all eat the same spiritual meat;

They all ate of the same spiritual bread,

4 and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

and all drank from the same spiritual stream, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

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

But in 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.

Now this happened as a warning for us, that we might not long for evil things as they longed.

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

And you must not be idolaters like some of them. as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, And they rose up for idol dances.

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

Nor must we act licentiously, as some of them did, and fell in a single day, twenty-three thousand of them.

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

Neither must we presume upon the patience of our Lord, as some of them presumed, and were destroyed by the serpents;

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

nor murmur, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroying Angel.

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

Now these things were happening to them typically, but were written down for our admonition who stand at the meeting of the ages. (aiōn g165)

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

So then let him who imagines that he is standing so securely beware lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

No temptation has overtaken you that is beyond man’s power; but God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but will, with every temptation, provide the way of escape also, so that you may be able to withstand.

14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

So then, my beloved, continually flee from idolatry.

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

I am speaking to men of sense; do you yourselves judge what I say.

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

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a common participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a common participation in the body of Christ?

17 seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread.

Because we who are many are one bread, one body, for we all do share in the one loaf.

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they which eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?

Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices in communion with the altar?

19 What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

What then shall we say? that an offering to an idol is anything? or that an idol is really anything?

20 But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with devils.

On the contrary, what the heathen sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have communion with demons.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of devils.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons; you cannot be partakers in the Lord’s table and in the table of demons.

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

What! would we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

23 All things are lawful; but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful; but all things edify not.

"All things are lawful," you say? But not all things are expedient; "all things are lawful"; but not all build up.

24 Let no man seek his own, but [each] his neighbour’s [good].

Let not each one be always seeking his own, but rather his neighbor’s good.

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

Eat anything that is for sale in the markets, asking no questions for conscience sake;

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

for the earth and its fulness are the Lord’s.

27 If one of them that believe not biddeth you [to a feast], and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

If one who is not a believer invites you to his house, and you wish to go, eat everything that is set before you, without asking questions for conscience sake.

28 But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake:

But if any one tells you, "This food has been offered in sacrifice," do not eat it, for the sake of him who told you,

29 conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other’s; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

and for your conscience sake - his conscience, not your own. "But," you may object, "why should my freedom be decided upon another’s scruples of conscience?

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

If I eat after giving thanks, why am I denounced for eating that for which I have given thanks?"

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Because whether you are eating or whether you are drinking, you are to do it all for the glory of God.

32 Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:

Do not be a cause of stumbling either to Jews of to Gentiles, or to the church of God.

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

For so I also try to please all men in every way, not by seeking my own good, but the good of the many, that they may be saved.