1 Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant about how all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.
2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
3 They all ate the same spiritual meal.
4 They all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them. That Rock was representedsymbolic of Christ! (Exodus 7:6) (Numbers 20:11)
5 God was not pleased with most of them. And their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were examples for us. They teach us not to lust after evil things like they did.
7 Do not be idolaters like some of them. It is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.
8 Do not commit fornication like some of them committed. Twenty three thousand of them died in one day.
9 Do not test Jehovah like some of them also did and were destroyed by serpents.
10 Do not grumble like some of them grumbled. Venomous snakes killed them.
11 These things happened for examples, and they are written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your limits. He will make a way out, that you will be able to endure it.
14 My dearly beloved, flee run away from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men. You judge what I say.
16 The cup of blessing we bless, is it not the sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread we break, is it not the sharing of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one-bread and one-body. We are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Is physical Israel the ones who eat the sacrifices, the partakers of the altar?
19 What do I mean? That the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?
20 But I say, that the things that the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
21 You cannot drink the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the Jehovah's Table and of the table of demons. (Malachi 1:12)
22 Do we provoke Jehovah to rivalry indignationanger? Are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient profitable. All things are lawful for me, but all things do not build up confirmstrengthen.
24 Let no one seek his own advantage, but that of the other person.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without asking questions for the sake of conscience.
26 For the earth and that which fills it is Jehovahs. (Psalm 24:1)
27 If a nonbeliever invites you to a feast and you feel you must go eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man says to you: »This is offered in sacrifice to idols,« do not eat for the sake of the one who said it and for conscience sake.
29 Conscience, I say, not your own, but of the other: Yet why is my freedom judged by another man's conscience?
30 For if I by grace am a partaker, why is evil spoken about me concerning that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God.
32 Do not stumble or offend do not lead into sin, neither to the Jews, nor to the nations, nor to the congregation of God.
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.