1 F or I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under and protected by the cloud, and every one of them passed safely through the Sea,

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

2 A nd each one of them to be baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3 A nd all ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food,

all ate the same spiritual food,

4 A nd they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

5 N evertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn down along in the wilderness.

But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 N ow these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did.

Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

7 D o not be worshipers of false gods as some of them were, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose to sport (to dance and give way to jesting and hilarity).

And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

8 W e must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did—and twenty-three thousand fell dead in a single day!

Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

9 W e should not tempt the Lord as some of them did—and were killed by poisonous serpents;

nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

10 N or discontentedly complain as some of them did—and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).

nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 N ow these things befell them by way of a figure; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period).

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

12 T herefore let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

13 F or no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man '> adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful, and He not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Flee from Idolatry

14 T herefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God).

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

15 I am speaking as to intelligent (sensible) men. Think over and make up your minds about what I say.

I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.

16 T he cup of blessing upon which we ask blessing, does it not mean we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the blood of Christ (the Messiah)? The bread which we break, does it not mean we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the body of Christ?

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?

17 F or we numerous we are, are one body, because we all partake of the one Bread.

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

18 C onsider those people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners of the altar ?

Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

19 W hat do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything or that an idol itself is a thing?

What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything?

20 N o, I am suggesting that what the pagans sacrifice they offer to demons (to evil spiritual powers) and not to God. I do not want you to fellowship and be partners with diabolical spirits.

Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.

21 Y ou cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’ cup. You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the demons’ table.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

22 S hall we thus provoke the Lord to jealousy and anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He ?

Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? All to the Glory of God

23 A ll things are legitimate, but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive and edifying.

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

24 L et no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but each one of the other.

Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

25 e at anything that is sold in the meat market without raising any question or investigating on the grounds of conscientious scruples,

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;

26 F or the earth is the Lord’s and everything that is in it.

for “the earth is the L ord ’s, and all its fullness.”

27 I n case one of the unbelievers invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without examining into its source because of conscientious scruples.

If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

28 B ut if someone tells you, This has been offered in sacrifice to an idol, do not eat it, out of consideration for the person who informed you, and for conscience’s sake—

But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the L ord ’s, and all its fullness.”

29 I mean for the sake of his conscience, not yours,. For why should another man’s scruples apply to me and my liberty of action be determined by his conscience?

“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?

30 I f I partake with thankfulness, why am I accused and spoken evil of because of that for which I give thanks?

But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

31 S o then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

32 D o not let yourselves be an offense to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God '> do not lead others into sin by your mode of life];

Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,

33 J ust as I myself strive to please all men in everything I do, not aiming at or considering my own profit and advantage, but that of the many in order that they may be saved.

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