| 1. | I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, |
| 2. | and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. |
| 3. | All ate the same spiritual food, |
| 4. | and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. |
| 5. | Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. |
| 6. | These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. |
| 7. | And do not become idolaters, as some of them did, as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel." |
| 8. | Let us not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell within a single day. |
| 9. | Let us not test Christ as some of them did, and suffered death by serpents. |
| 10. | Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. |
| 11. | These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. |
| 12. | Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. |
| 13. | No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. |
| 14. | Therefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry. |
| 15. | I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying. |
| 16. | The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? |
| 17. | Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. |
| 18. | Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? |
| 19. | So what am I saying? That meat sacrificed to idols is anything? Or that an idol is anything? |
| 20. | No, I mean that what they sacrifice, (they sacrifice) to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to become participants with demons. |
| 21. | You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. |
| 22. | Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger? Are we stronger than he? |
| 23. | "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds up. |
| 24. | No one should seek his own advantage, but that of his neighbor. |
| 25. | Eat anything sold in the market, without raising questions on grounds of conscience, |
| 26. | for "the earth and its fullness are the Lord's." |
| 27. | If an unbeliever invites you and you want to go, eat whatever is placed before you, without raising questions on grounds of conscience. |
| 28. | But if someone says to you, "This was offered in sacrifice," do not eat it on account of the one who called attention to it and on account of conscience; |
| 29. | I mean not your own conscience, but the other's. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else's conscience? |
| 30. | If I partake thankfully, why am I reviled for that over which I give thanks? |
| 31. | So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. |
| 32. | Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, |
| 33. | just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. |
