Read the Bible

¹ For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, how that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; ² and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ³ and did all eat the same spiritual meat; ⁴ and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. ⁵ Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. ⁷ 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. ⁸ Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. ⁹ Neither let us tempt the Lord, as some of them tempted, and perished by the serpents. ¹⁰ Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. ¹¹ 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. ¹² Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. ¹⁶ 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? ¹⁷ seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread. ¹⁸ Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they which eat the sacrifices communion with the altar? ¹⁹ What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with devils. ²¹ Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of devils. ²² Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

²³ All things are lawful; but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful; but all things edify not. ²⁴ Let no man seek his own, but [each] his neighbour’s [good]. ²⁵ Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience sake; ²⁶ for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. ²⁷ 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. ²⁸ But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: ²⁹ conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other’s; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience? ³⁰ If I by grace partake, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? ³¹ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: ³³ 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.