1 Corinthians 10

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all went through the sea, 2 and all were immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, [a] † 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they were drinking from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. [b] 5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. [c]

6 Now these things became patterns for us, so that we should not be people who set their desire on evil things, as they also set their desire. 7 And do not become idol-servers, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.” [d] 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. [f] 9 Nor let us put Christ to the test, as some of them tested him, and were being destroyed by the snakes. [g] 10 Nor grumble, as some of them grumbled, and were destroyed by the destroyer. [h]

11 Now these things were happening to them as patterns, and they were written for our warning, on whom the ends of the ages have arrived. [i] 12 So the one who thinks he stands, let him watch out that he does not fall. 13 No test has taken you except what is human; and God is faithful, who will not let you be tested beyond what you are able, but with the test will also make the way out, so that you are able to bear up under it. [j]

14 Therefore, my loved ones, flee from idol-service. 15 I speak as to discerning people; you judge what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless — is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break — is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? [k] 17 Because there is one bread, we the many are one body; for we all take a share of the one bread. † 18 Look at Israel according to flesh: are not those who eat the sacrifices partners of the altar?

19 What then am I saying? That what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No — but that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners of the demons. [l] 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot take a share of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. 22 Or are we making the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is? [m]

23 Everything is permitted — but not everything is an advantage. Everything is permitted — but not everything builds up. [n] 24 Let no one seek his own, but that of the other. 25 Eat everything sold in the meat market, examining nothing for the sake of conscience; [o] 26 for the earth is the Lord’s, along with everything in it. [p]

27 If any of the faithless invites you and you want to go, eat everything set before you, examining nothing for the sake of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been sacrificed in a temple,” do not eat — because of the one who pointed it out, and because of conscience. [q] 29 And by conscience I mean not your own but the other’s. For why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take my share with thanks, why am I spoken evil of for what I give thanks for? [r]

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32 Give no cause of stumbling to Jews or to Greeks or to the gathering of God, [s] 33 just as I also please everyone in everything, not seeking my own advantage but that of the many, so that they may be saved.