1Brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant of this. All our fathers were under the cloud, and all of them 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. For they drank from that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
5But God was not pleased with many of them. They were struck down in the wilderness.
6Now these things were examples for us. They teach us not to long for evil things, as they longed for them.
7Do not worship idols, as some of them did. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play."
8Let us not commit sexual sin, as some of them did. Twenty-three thousand of them fell in one day.
9Let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did. They were destroyed by snakes.
10Do not complain, as some of them complained. They were destroyed by the destroyer.
11All these things happened to them as examples. They were written down to warn us, for the ends of the world have come upon us.
12So anyone who thinks he is standing firm should be careful that he does not fall.
13No temptation has come to you that is not common to everyone. And God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. With the temptation he will also make a way out, so that you are able to bear it.
14So then, my dear friends, run away from the worship of idols.
15I am speaking to you as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say.
16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?
17Though we are many, we are one bread and one body, for we all share in that one bread.
18Look at Israel according to the flesh. Are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?
19What am I saying then? That the idol is anything, or that what is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?
20No, but I say that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God. And I do not want you to share with devils.
21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. You cannot share in the Lord's table and in the table of devils.
22Do we stir the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is?
23All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but not all things build up.
24Let no one seek his own good, but each one the good of his neighbour.
25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, and ask no question for conscience's sake.
26For the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.
27If one of the unbelievers invites you to a meal, and you are willing to go, eat whatever is set before you, and ask no question for conscience's sake.
28But if anyone says to you, "This was offered in sacrifice to idols," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience's sake. For the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.
29I mean his conscience, not your own. For why should my freedom be judged by another person's conscience?
30If I share in the food by grace, why am I spoken evil of for what I give thanks for?
31So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
32Do not cause anyone to stumble, not the Jews, not the Gentiles, and not the church of God.
33I also try to please everyone in everything. I do not seek what is good for me, but what is good for many, so that they may be saved.