For ^aI do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all ^bunder the cloud and they all ^cpassed through the sea; 2 and they all were ^abaptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and they 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 pleased; for their dead bodies were ^aspread out in the wilderness.

6 Now these things happened as ^aexamples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as ^bthey indeed craved them. 7 Do not be ^aidolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “^bTHE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND TO DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO ^cPLAY.” 8 Nor are we to commit sexual immorality, as ^asome of them ¹did, and ^btwenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor are we to put the Lord to the test, as ^asome of them ¹did, and were killed by the snakes. 10 Nor ^agrumble, as some of them ¹did, and ^bwere killed 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 come. 12 Therefore let the one who ^athinks he stands watch out that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and ^aGod is faithful, ¹so He 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 wise people; you then, judge what I say. 16 Is the ^acup of blessing which we bless not a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is the ^bbread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one loaf, we ^awho are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. 18 Look at ¹the people of ^aIsrael; are those who ^beat the sacrifices not partners in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or ^athat an idol is ¹anything? 20 No, but I say that things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they ^asacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with 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 Lord to jealousy? We are not ^bstronger than He, are we?

23 ^aAll things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things ^1bbuild people up. 24 No one is to ^aseek his own advantage, but rather that of his ¹neighbor. 25 ^aEat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience; 26 ^aFOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ¹ALL IT CONTAINS. 27 If ^aone of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, ^beat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience. 28 But ^aif anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience. 29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for ^awhy is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, ^awhy am I slandered about that for which I ^bgive thanks?

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or ^awhatever you do, do all things for the glory of God. 32 ^aDo not offend Jews or Greeks, or ^bthe church of God; 33 just as I also ^aplease everyone in all things, ^bnot seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, ^cso that they may be saved.