For ^aI do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all ^bunder the cloud and all ^cpassed through the sea; 2 and all were ^abaptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ^aate the same spiritual food; 4 and all ^adrank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them, and the rock was ¹Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased. For ^aTHEY WERE ¹STRUCK DOWN IN THE WILDERNESS. 6 Now these things happened as ^aexamples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^bthey also craved.

7 Do not be ^aidolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “^bTHE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO ^cPLAY.” 8 Nor let us act in sexual immorality, as ^asome of them ¹did, and ^btwenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us put Christ to the test, as ^asome of them ¹did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor ^agrumble, as some of them ¹did, and ^bwere destroyed by the ^cdestroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an ^aexample, and ^bthey were written for our instruction, upon whom ^cthe ends of the ages have arrived. 12 Therefore let him who ^athinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but ^aGod is faithful, who will not allow you to be ^btempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my ^abeloved, flee from ^bidolatry. 15 I speak as to prudent people. You judge what I say. 16 Is not the ^acup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the ^1bbread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one ¹bread, we ^awho are many are one body, for we all partake of the one ²bread. 18 Look at ¹the nation ^aIsrael. Are not those who ^beat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^athat an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^aSACRIFICE TO DEMONS AND NOT TO GOD. And I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 ^aYou cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and ^bthe table of demons. 22 Or do we ^aPROVOKE THE ¹LORD TO JEALOUSY? Are we ^bstronger than He?

23 ^aAll things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things ^bbuild up. 24 Let no one ^aseek his own good, but that of the other person. 25 ^aEat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 26 ^aFOR THE EARTH IS THE ¹LORD’S, AS WELL AS ITS FULLNESS. 27 If ^aone of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^beat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28 But ^aif anyone says to you, “This is meat consecrated to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake. 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For ^awhy is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with gratefulness, ^awhy am I slandered concerning that for which I ^bgive thanks?

31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or ^awhatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 ^aGive no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to ^bthe church of God; 33 just as I also ^aplease all men in all things, ^bnot seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, ^cso that they may be saved.