Holman Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

1I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.

2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

2In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.

3They all ate the same spiritual food,

3All of them ate the same spiritual food,

4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.

4and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.

5But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

5Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.

6These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did,

7Don't become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.

7or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.”

8Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.

8And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

9Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes.

9Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.

10Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.

10And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.

11Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

11These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

12So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

12If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.

13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

14So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.

15I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.

15You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.

16The cup of blessing that we give thanks for, 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?

16When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?

17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for all of us share that one bread.

17And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.

18Look at the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar?

18Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

19What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

19What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods?

20No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons!

20No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons.

21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons.

21You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.

22Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?"

22What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?

23Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up.

23You say, “I am allowed to do anything” —but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.

24No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

24Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

25Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience sake,

25So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.

26for the earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it.

26For “the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.”

27If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience.

27If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.

28But if someone says to you, "This is food offered to an idol," do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience sake.

28(But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you.

29I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person's. For why is my freedom judged by another person's conscience?

29It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks?

30If I partake with thanks, why am I slandered because of something I give thanks for?

30If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory.

31So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

32Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God,

32Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.

33just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, so that they may be saved.

33I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.