1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13

English Standard Version

¹⁹ For ^(A)though I am free from all, ^(B)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might ^(C)win more of them. ^20 (D)To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹ To ^(E)those outside the law I became ^(F)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but ^(G)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ^22 (H)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. ^(I)I have become all things to all people, that ^(J)by all means I might save some. ²³ I do it all for the sake of the gospel, ^(K)that I may share with them in its blessings.

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives ^(L)the prize? So ^(M)run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every ^(N)athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we ^(O)an imperishable. ²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I ^(P)do not box as one ^(Q)beating the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and ^(R)keep it under control,^[a] lest after preaching to others ^(S)I myself should be ^(T)disqualified.

Warning Against Idolatry

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,^[b] that our fathers were all under ^(U)the cloud, and all ^(V)passed through the sea, ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and ^(W)all ate the same ^(X)spiritual food, ⁴ and ^(Y)all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for ^(Z)they were overthrown^[c] in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as ^(AA)they did. ^7 (AB)Do not be idolaters ^(AC)as some of them were; as it is written, ^(AD)“The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” ^8 (AE)We must not indulge in sexual immorality ^(AF)as some of them did, and ^(AG)twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. ⁹ We must not put Christ^[d] to the test, ^(AH)as some of them did and ^(AI)were destroyed by serpents, ¹⁰ nor grumble, ^(AJ)as some of them did and ^(AK)were destroyed by ^(AL)the Destroyer. ¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an example, but ^(AM)they were written down for our instruction, ^(AN)on whom the end of the ages has come. ¹² Therefore ^(AO)let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. ^(AP)God is faithful, and ^(AQ)he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.