1 F or I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

For 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,

2 a nd were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

And each one of them to be baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 a nd did all eat the same spiritual food;

And all ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food,

4 a nd did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

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

5 H owbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

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

6 N ow these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Now 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.

7 N either 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 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).

8 N either let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

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

9 N either let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.

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

10 N either murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did—and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).

11 N ow these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

Now 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).

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

Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.

13 T here hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

For 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.

14 W herefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Therefore, 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).

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

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

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

The 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?

17 s eeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.

For we numerous we are, are one body, because we all partake of the one Bread.

18 B ehold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?

Consider those people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners of the altar ?

19 W hat say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

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

20 B ut 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 communion with demons.

No, 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.

21 Y e cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.

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

22 O r do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Shall we thus provoke the Lord to jealousy and anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He ?

23 A ll things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.

All 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.

24 L et no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good.

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

25 W hatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake,

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

26 f or the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

For the earth is the Lord’s and everything that is in it.

27 I f one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake.

In 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.

28 B ut if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake:

But 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—

29 c onscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

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?

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

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

31 W hether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

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

32 G ive no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:

Do 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];

33 e ven as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

Just 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.