1 Corinthians 10

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

I want you to bear in mind, friends, that all our ancestors were beneath the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

that in the cloud and in the sea they all underwent baptism as followers of Moses;

3 And all ate the same spiritual food;

and that they all ate the same supernatural food,

4 And all drank the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

and all drank the same supernatural water, for they used to drink from a supernatural rock which followed them, and that rock was the Christ.

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

Yet with most of them God was displeased; for they were struck down 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 these things happened as warnings to us, to teach us not to long for evil things as our ancestors 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.

Do not become idolaters, as some of them became. Scripture says – “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to dance.”

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

Nor let us act immorally, as some of them acted, with the result that twenty-three thousand of them fell dead in a single day.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents.

Nor let us try the patience of the Lord too far, as some of them tried it, with the result that they were, one after another, destroyed by snakes.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

And do not murmur, as some of them murmured, and so were destroyed by the angel of death.

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

These things happened to them by way of warning, and were recorded to serve as a caution to us, in whose days the close of the ages has come. (aiōn g165)

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

Therefore let the person who thinks that they stand take care that they do not fall.

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

No temptation has come upon you that is not common to all humanity. God will not fail you, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength; but, when he sends the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, so that you may have strength to endure.

14 Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Therefore, my dear friends, shun the worship of idols.

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

I speak to you as man of discernment; form your own judgment about what I am saying.

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

In the cup of blessing which we bless, is not there a sharing in the blood of the Christ? And in the bread which we break, is not there a sharing in the body of the Christ?

17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

The bread is one, and we, though many, are one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

Look at the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices share with the altar?

19 What then do I say? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

What do I mean? That an offering made to an idol, or the idol itself, is anything?

20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with demons.

No; what I say is that the sacrifices offered by the Gentiles are offered to demons and to a being who is no God, and I do not want you to share with demons.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of demons.

You cannot drink both the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons.

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

Or are we to rouse the jealousy of the Lord? Are we stronger than he?

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

Everything is allowable! Yes, but everything is not profitable. Everything is allowable! Yes, but everything does not build up character.

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s good.

A person must not study their own interests, but the interests of others.

25 Whatever is sold in the meat market, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

Eat anything that is sold in the market, without making inquiries to satisfy your scruples;

26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and all it containeth.

for the earth, with all that is in it, belongs to the Lord.

27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

If an unbeliever invites you to his house and you consent to go, eat anything that is put before you, without making inquiries to satisfy your scruples.

28 But if any man shall say to you, This is offered in sacrifice to idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it containeth:

But, if anyone should say to you “This has been offered in sacrifice to an idol,” then, for the sake of the speaker and his scruples, do not eat it.

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

I do not say your scruples, but his. For why should the freedom that I claim be condemned by the scruples of another?

30 For if I by grace am a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

If, for my part, I take the food thankfully, why should I be abused for eating that for which I give thanks?

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

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything to the honour of God.

32 Give no offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Do not cause offence either to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God;

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

for I, also, try to please everybody in everything, not seeking my own advantage, but do what is best for others, so that they may be saved.