Chapter 10

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

and did all eat the same spiritual food;

and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.

Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?

seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.

Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?

What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.

Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.

Let no man seek his own, but [each] his neighbor's [good].

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake,

for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

If one of them that believe not biddeth you [to a feast], and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake.

But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake:

conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:

even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of the many, that they may be saved.