Avoid Israel’s Mistakes

10 For (A)I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all (B)under the cloud and they all (C)passed through the sea; and they all were (D)baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and they all (E)ate the same spiritual food, and all (F)drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was [a]Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased; for their dead bodies were (G)spread out in the wilderness.

Now these things happened as (H)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as (I)they indeed craved them. Do not be (J)idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “(K)The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to (L)play.” Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as (M)some of them [b]did, and (N)twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as (O)some of them [c]did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Nor (P)grumble, as some of them [d]did, and (Q)were killed by the (R)destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an (S)example, and (T)they were written for our instruction, upon whom (U)the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let the one who (V)thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and (W)God is faithful, [e]so He will not allow you to be (X)tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my (Y)beloved, flee from (Z)idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16 Is the (AA)cup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the (AB)bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf, we (AC)who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at [f]the people of (AD)Israel; are those who (AE)eat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or (AF)that an idol is [g]anything? 20 No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they (AG)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21 (AH)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and (AI)the table of demons. 22 Or do we (AJ)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not (AK)stronger than He, are we?

23 (AL)All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things [h](AM)build people up. 24 No one is to (AN)seek his own advantage, but rather that of his [i]neighbor. 25 (AO)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 26 (AP)for the earth is the Lords, and [j]all it contains. 27 If (AQ)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, (AR)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. 28 But (AS)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience; 29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for (AT)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, (AU)why am I slandered about that for which I (AV)give thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or (AW)whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32 (AX)Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or (AY)the church of God; 33 just as I also (AZ)please everyone in all things, (BA)not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, (BB)so that they may be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 10:4 I.e., the Messiah
  2. 1 Corinthians 10:8 Lit committed sexual immorality
  3. 1 Corinthians 10:9 Lit made trial
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:10 Lit grumbled
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Lit who will not
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:18 Lit Israel according to the flesh
  7. 1 Corinthians 10:19 I.e., anything real
  8. 1 Corinthians 10:23 Or edify
  9. 1 Corinthians 10:24 Lit the other
  10. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Lit its fullness

10 And I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

and all to Moses were baptized in the cloud, and in the sea;

and all the same spiritual food did eat,

and all the same spiritual drink did drink, for they were drinking of a spiritual rock following them, and the rock was the Christ;

but in the most of them God was not well pleased, for they were strewn in the wilderness,

and those things became types of us, for our not passionately desiring evil things, as also these did desire.

Neither become ye idolaters, as certain of them, as it hath been written, `The people sat down to eat and to drink, and stood up to play;'

neither may we commit whoredom, as certain of them did commit whoredom, and there fell in one day twenty-three thousand;

neither may we tempt the Christ, as also certain of them did tempt, and by the serpents did perish;

10 neither murmur ye, as also some of them did murmur, and did perish by the destroyer.

11 And all these things as types did happen to those persons, and they were written for our admonition, to whom the end of the ages did come,

12 so that he who is thinking to stand -- let him observe, lest he fall.

13 No temptation hath taken you -- except human; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but He will make, with the temptation, also the outlet, for your being able to bear [it].

14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from the idolatry;

15 as to wise men I speak -- judge ye what I say:

16 The cup of the blessing that we bless -- is it not the fellowship of the blood of the Christ? the bread that we break -- is it not the fellowship of the body of the Christ?

17 because one bread, one body, are we the many -- for we all of the one bread do partake.

18 See Israel according to the flesh! are not those eating the sacrifices in the fellowship of the altar?

19 what then do I say? that an idol is anything? or that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything? --

20 [no,] but that the things that the nations sacrifice -- they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not wish you to come into the fellowship of the demons.

21 Ye are not able the cup of the Lord to drink, and the cup of demons; ye are not able of the table of the Lord to partake, and of the table of demons;

22 do we arouse the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?

23 All things to me are lawful, but all things are not profitable; all things to me are lawful, but all things do not build up;

24 let no one seek his own -- but each another's.

25 Whatever in the meat-market is sold eat ye, not inquiring, because of the conscience,

26 for the Lord's [is] the earth, and its fulness;

27 and if any one of the unbelieving do call you, and ye wish to go, all that is set before you eat, nothing inquiring, because of the conscience;

28 and if any one may say to you, `This is a thing sacrificed to an idol,' -- do not eat, because of that one who shewed [it], and of the conscience, for the Lord's [is] the earth and its fulness:

29 and conscience, I say, not of thyself, but of the other, for why [is it] that my liberty is judged by another's conscience?

30 and if I thankfully do partake, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether, then, ye eat, or drink, or do anything, do all to the glory of God;

32 become offenceless, both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God;

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