1 Corinthians 10

1 For I wish not ye should be ignorant, brethren, that, all our fathers, were, under the cloud, and, all, passed through the sea, —

Now I want to explain this to you, brothers and sisters. Our forefathers lived under the cloud, and they all passed through the sea.

2 And, all, immersed themselves into Moses, in the cloud, and in the sea;

Symbolically then they were baptized “into Moses” in the cloud and in the sea.

3 And, all, did eat [the same] spiritual food,

They all ate the same spiritual food

4 And, all, drank, the same spiritual drink, —for they continued to drink of the spiritual rock that followed them, and, the rock, was the Christ: —

and drank the same spiritual drink, for they “drank from a spiritual rock” that accompanied them. That rock was Christ.

5 Nevertheless, with the most of them, God, was not well-pleased, for they were strewed along in the desert.

However, God wasn't happy with most of them, and they perished in the desert.

6 But, in these things, they became, ensamples for us, to the end we should not be covetous of evil things, even as, they, also coveted;

Now these experiences are examples to us to show us we should not desire what is evil, 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 be making sport;

You must not worship idols, as some of them did, as it's recorded in Scripture: “The people feasted and drank, and indulged in pagan worship.”

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

We must not commit sexual sins, as some of them did, and as a result 23,000 died in one day.

9 Neither let us be putting the Lord to the test, as, some of them, put him to the test, and, by the serpents, were perishing;

Nor should we push God to the limit, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.

10 Neither be ye murmuring, even, as some of them, murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

Don't complain at God, as some did, and died at the hands of the destroying angel.

11 But, these things, by way of type, were happening unto them, and were written with a view to our admonition, unto whom, the ends of the ages, have reached along. (aiōn g165)

All the things that happened to them are examples to us and were written down to warn us, we who are living close to the end of time. (aiōn g165)

12 So that, he that thinketh he is standing, let him take heed lest he fall.

So if you think you're strong enough to stay standing—be careful you don't fall!

13 Trial, hath not taken you, save such as man can bear; faithful, moreover is God, who will not suffer you to be tried above what ye are able, but will make, with the trial, also the way of escape, that ye may be able to hold out.

You won't experience any greater temptation than anyone else, and God is trustworthy. He won't allow you to be tempted more than you can bear, and when you are tempted, he will provide for you a way out so you can stay strong.

14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry, —

So my good friends, stay away from idol worship.

15 As, to prudent men, I speak, —judge, ye, what I say: —

I'm talking to sensible people, so you decide whether I'm telling the truth.

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

When we give thanks for the cup we use in the Lord's Supper, don't we share in the blood of Christ? When we break the communion bread, don't we share in the body of Christ?

17 Because, one loaf, one body, we, the many, are, for we, all, of the one loaf, partake.

By eating from one loaf of bread, we show that even though we are many, we are one body.

18 Be looking at Israel after the flesh: —are not, they who eat the sacrifices, joint partakers with the altar?

Look at the people of Israel. Don't those who eat the sacrifices made on the altar share together?

19 What, then, am I saying?—that, an idol-sacrifice, is anything? or that, an idol, is anything?

What am I saying then? That anything sacrificed to idols means anything, or that an idol has any real existence? Of course not!

20 On the contrary—that, the things which the nations sacrifice, unto demons, and not unto God, they sacrifice; and I wish not that ye should become, sharers together with the demons!

The pagans are sacrificing to demons, and not to God. I don't want you to have anything to do with demons!

21 Ye cannot be drinking—a cup of the Lord, and a cup of demons; ye cannot be partaking of, a table of the Lord, and a table of demons.

You can't drink the Lord's cup as well as the cup of demons; you can't eat from the Lord's table as well as the table of demons.

22 Or are we to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we mightier than he?

Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?

23 All things are allowable—but, not all things, are profitable, —all things are allowable—but, not all things, upbuild.

Some say, “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is appropriate! “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is constructive!

24 Let, no one, be seeking, what concerneth himself, but that which concerneth some one else.

You shouldn't look out for yourself, but for your neighbor.

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

Eat whatever is sold in the market without asking questions because of your conscience,

26 For, unto the Lord, belongeth the earth, and the fullness thereof.

for “the earth and everything in it belong to God.”

27 If one of them who believe not invite you, and ye are disposed to go, whatsoever is set before you, eat, —asking no question, for conscience sake.

If a non-Christian invites you to a meal, and you feel like going, eat whatever you are served, without asking questions because of your conscience.

28 But, if anyone should say unto you, —This, is, a holy sacrifice, do not eat, for that man’s sake who disclosed it, and for conscience sake: —

But if someone tells you, “This food has been sacrificed to idols,” don't eat it for the sake of the one who mentioned it and for conscience' sake.

29 But, conscience, I mean, not thine own, but the other’s, —for why is my freedom to be judged by another’s conscience?

His conscience I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else's conscience?

30 If, I, with gratitude, partake, why am I to be defamed, as to that for which, I, give thanks?

If I choose to eat with thankfulness, why should I be criticized for eating what I'm thankful to God for?

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

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, make sure to do everything to the glory of God.

32 Give no occasion of stumbling—whether to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God:

Don't cause offense, whether it's to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—

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

just as I try to please everybody in all I do. I don't think of what benefits me, but what benefits others, so that they may be saved.