1I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea.
2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
3They all ate the same spiritual food,
4and they all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ.
5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6These things happened as examples for us, so we would not crave evil things, just as they did.
7Do not worship idols, like some of them did. As the Scripture says, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and then got up to amuse themselves."
8Let’s not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and because of it, twenty-three thousand people died in one day.
9Let’s not test Christ, as some of them did, and then died from snake bites.
10Do not complain, as some of them complained, and then were killed by the destroyer.
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down to warn us, on whom the end of the ages has come.
12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.
13You have not experienced any temptation that is not common to everyone. God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
14Therefore, my dear friends, stay away from idol worship.
15I am speaking to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16When we drink from the cup of blessing that we bless, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? When we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ?
17Because there's only one loaf of bread, we, though many, are one body; because we all share in that one loaf.
18Think about the people of Israel. Don't those who eat the sacrifices share in what happens at the altar?
19So, am I saying that food offered to idols means anything, or that an idol itself is anything?
20No, what I'm saying is that when non-Jewish people make sacrifices, they are sacrificing to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to have anything to do with demons.
21You cannot drink both the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot eat at both the Lord's table and the table of demons.
22Or are we trying to make the Lord angry? Do we think we are stronger than he is?
23Some say, "I am allowed to do anything," but not everything is helpful. Some say, "I am allowed to do anything," but not everything builds others up.
24No one should look out only for themselves, but for the good of others.
25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without asking questions, so your conscience is clear,
26for “the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.”
27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without asking any questions for the sake of your conscience.
28But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then don’t eat it, because of the person who told you and for the sake of conscience. For “the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.”
29I am talking about the other person’s conscience, not your own. For why should my freedom be judged by someone else’s conscience?
30If I eat with thankfulness, why should anyone criticize me for what I am thankful for?
31So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
32Don’t cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or God’s church.
33That’s how I try to please everyone in every way. I don’t seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.