1 Corinthians 10

1 My fellow believers, I want to remind you about our(exc) [Jewish] ancestors. They were all under the cloud [by which God miraculously led them and protected them when they left Egypt with Moses]. All those ancestors crossed the [Red] Sea [after God miraculously made the water separate so that they could walk through it].

And, my Brethren, I would have you know, that our fathers were all of them under the cloud, and they all passed through the sea;

2 God caused all of them to begin to live under the authority of [MTY] Moses [when they walked] under that cloud and [walked through the Red] Sea.

and they were all baptized by Moses, in the cloud and in the sea;

3 All [those ancestors of ours ate the same food that God] miraculously [provided].

and they all ate the same spiritual food;

4 They all drank water that [God] miraculously [provided]. That is, they all drank water that God miraculously made come out of the rock. That rock was [a symbol of] [MET] Christ, who went with them. [So we conclude that God helped all of those people in many ways].

and they all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that attended them, and that rock was the Messiah.

5 However, [we also conclude that] God was angry [LIT] with most of those people [because they sinned against him. He caused almost all of them to die, and as] a result their bodies were scattered in the desert.

But with a multitude of them, God was not pleased; for they fell in the wilderness.

6 Those things [that happened long ago] became examples to teach us [the following things]: We should not desire to [do] evil things as those people desired to do.

Now these things were an example for us, that we should not hanker after evil things as they hankered.

7 We should not worship idols as many of those people did. [Remember that Moses] wrote, “The people sat down. They ate and drank [to honor the golden calf that they had just made]. Then they got up to dance [immorally].”

Neither should we serve idols, as some of them served; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to sport.

8 We should not have sexual relations with someone to whom we are not married, as many of them did. As a result, God [punished them by] causing 23,000 people to die in [only] one day.

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

9 We should not try to see how much we can sin without the Lord punishing us. Some of them did that, and as a result they died because [poisonous] snakes [bit them].

Neither let us tempt the Messiah, as some of them tempted; and serpents destroyed them.

10 We should not complain [about what God does]. Some of them did that, and as a result an angel destroyed them. [So God will certainly punish us if we sin like they did].

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

11 All those things [that happened to our ancestors long ago] are examples for us. [Moses] wrote those things to warn us [who are living at this time which is near the end]. We are the people for whom God has done [the things that he decided to do in] the previous periods of time. (aiōn g165)

All these things which befell them, were for an example to us; and they are written for our instruction, on whom the end of the world hath come. (aiōn g165)

12 So [I say this to] all those who confidently [think that they will always] steadfastly continue to [believe what God said and will never disobey what he commanded]: Be careful that you [(sg)] do not sin [when you are tempted].

Wherefore, let him who thinketh he standeth, beware lest he fall.

13 [Remember that] your desires to sin are the same desires that other people have. But when you are tempted to sin, you can trust God [to help you]. He will not permit you to be tempted {anything to tempt you} more than you are able to resist. Instead, when you are tempted {things tempt you}, he will also provide a way [for you] to endure it [without sinning].

No trial cometh on you, but what pertaineth to men: and God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tried beyond your ability, but will make an issue to your trial, that ye may be able to sustain it.

14 So, [I say to] you people whom I love, [avoid] worshipping idols [just like you would] run away from [anything that is dangerous].

Wherefore, my Beloved, flee from idolatry.

15 It is to people who [think that they] are wise that I write. So, you, as wise people, judge whether what I am writing [is true].

I speak as to the wise; judge ye what I say.

16 [During the Lord’s Supper, after we ask God to] bless (the [wine]/the [juice]) [in the] cup, we give thanks for it [and drink it]. By doing that, we certainly are [RHQ] sharing in what Christ [did for us when] his blood [flowed from his body when he died. During the Lord’s Supper, when we break] the bread [and eat it], we are certainly sharing in [MTY] what Christ [did for us when] his body [suffered for us on the cross]. [RHQ]

The cup of thanksgiving which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of the Messiah? And the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of the Messiah?

17 Because it is one loaf of bread that we [break and eat during the Lord’s Supper, it symbolizes that] we who are many are one group, because we all eat from the one loaf.

As therefore that bread is one, so we are all one body; for we all take to ourselves from that one bread.

18 Consider [what happens when] the Israeli people [eat the food that the priests] sacrifice on the altar [outside the Temple]. They participate in [what the priests do at] [MTY] the altar. [RHQ] [Similarly, if you eat food that non-believers have offered to an idol in a temple, you are participating in their worship of the idol there].

Behold the Israel who are in the flesh; are not they who eat the victims, participators of the altar?

19 By saying that, [I] do not mean that offering food to an idol makes it anything [more than just ordinary food [RHQ].] I do not mean that an idol is anything [more than just an idol].

What then do I say? That an idol is any thing? Or, that an idol's sacrifice is any thing? No.

20 No! Instead, I mean that what people sacrifice [to idols], they are sacrificing to demons, not to God. So, [if you eat food that has been sacrificed to idols, you are participating in worshipping the demons that the idols represent]. And I do not want you to participate in worshipping demons!

But that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. And I would not, that ye should be associates of demons.

21 When you drink the [grape juice/wine in] [MTY] the cup [at the Lord’s Supper], you cannot participate in the [blessings that] the Lord [Jesus] brought to us and at the same time drink the [wine in the] [MTY] cup that people offer to demons! When you eat at the Lord’s table, you cannot participate in the blessings the Lord provided [MTY] when he died for us and at the same time participate in the things that represent demons [by eating food that has been sacrificed to idols]

Ye cannot drink the cup of our Lord, and the cup of demons; and ye cannot be partakers at the table of our Lord, and at the table of demons.

22 [If you participate in honoring demons in that way], you will certainly make the Lord very angry [RHQ]! (Remember that you are certainly not stronger than he is./Do you think that you are stronger than he is?) [RHQ] [Certainly not, so you will not escape his punishing you if you honor demons in that way!]

Or, would we sedulously provoke our Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

23 [Some people say], “[God] permits [believers to do] anything.” But [I say that] not everything that people do benefits [those who do it! Yes, some people say], “God permits [believers to do] all things.” But not everything that people do helps them to become [spiritually] mature.

Every thing is in my power; but every thing is not profitable. Every thing is in my power; but every thing doth not edify.

24 No one should try to benefit [only] himself. Instead, each person should try to benefit other people [spiritually].

Let no one seek his own things, but also the things of his fellow-man.

25 [This is what you should do]: Eat any [food] that is sold {that people sell} in the market. Do not ask questions [to find out if that food has been offered] {[someone offered that food]} [to idols, just] because you think it would be wrong [to eat such food].

Whatever is sold in the flesh-market, eat ye, without an inquiry on account of conscience:

26 [Remember that the Psalmist wrote], “Everything on the earth belongs to [the] Lord [God because he created it!]” [So, food that has been offered to idols belongs to the Lord, not to the idols, and you may eat it].

for the earth is the Lord's, in its fullness.

27 If a non-believer invites you to a meal, go if you want to, and eat any food that is set {that [he] sets} before you. Do not ask [whether it was offered to idols, just] because you think that it would be wrong [to eat such food].

And if one of the Gentiles invite you, and ye are disposed to go, eat ye whatever is set before you, without an inquiry on account of conscience.

28 But if someone says to you, “This is food that was sacrificed [to an idol],” do not eat it, for the sake of the person who told that to you, and also because someone there may think that it is wrong [to eat such food].

But if any one shall say to you, This pertaineth to a sacrifice; eat not, for the sake of him who told you, and for conscience's sake.

29 I do not mean that you [should be concerned about whether it is all right to eat such food]. What I mean is that you should be concerned about others who may think that it is wrong to eat such food. Since I know that I (am free/have the right) [to eat such food without God punishing me], no one should [RHQ] say that what I am doing is wrong just because he himself thinks that it is wrong.

The conscience I speak of, is not your own, but his who told you. But why is my liberty judged of, by the conscience of others?

30 If I thank [God] for the food when I eat [food that has been offered to an idol], no one should criticize me for eating food for which I have thanked God [RHQ]!

If I by grace partake, why am I reproached for that, for which I give thanks?

31 So [I say to you in conclusion], when you eat [food], or drink [something], or do anything else, do everything in order that [people will] praise God.

If therefore ye eat, or if ye drink, or if ye do any thing, do all things for the glory of God.

32 Do not do anything that would hinder Jews or Greeks [from becoming believers], and do not do things that would encourage members of God’s congregations to sin.

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

33 [Do as I do]. I try to please everyone in every way. I do this by not seeking to benefit myself. Instead, I try to benefit many others, in order that they may be saved {that [God] may save them} [from the guilt of their sins].

even as I also, in every thing, please every man; and do not seek what is profitable to me, but what is profitable to many; that they may live.