Warnings from Israel’s Past (Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)
1 AKJV Moreover, brothers, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; BSB BSB: I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
2 AKJV And were all baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea; BSB BSB: They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
3 AKJV And did all eat the same spiritual meat; BSB BSB: They all ate the same spiritual food
4 AKJV And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. BSB BSB: and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
5 AKJV But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.
6 AKJV Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. BSB BSB: These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
7 AKJV Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. BSB BSB: Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”
8 AKJV Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. BSB BSB: We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
9 AKJV Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. BSB BSB: We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
10 AKJV Neither murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. BSB BSB: And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 AKJV Now all these things happened to them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world are come. BSB BSB: Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
12 AKJV Why let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. BSB BSB: So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
13 AKJV There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. BSB BSB: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
Flee from Idolatry (Exodus 20:22–26)
14 AKJV Why, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. BSB BSB: Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 AKJV I speak as to wise men; judge you what I say. BSB BSB: I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 AKJV The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? BSB BSB: Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
17 AKJV For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. BSB BSB: Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
18 AKJV Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? BSB BSB: Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?
19 AKJV What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? BSB BSB: Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 AKJV But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that you should have fellowship with devils. BSB BSB: No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
21 AKJV You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: you cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. BSB BSB: You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.
22 AKJV Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? BSB BSB: Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
All to God’s Glory (1 Peter 4:1–11)
23 AKJV All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. BSB BSB: “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
24 AKJV Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. BSB BSB: No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25 AKJV Whatever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: BSB BSB: Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
26 AKJV For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof. BSB BSB: for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
27 AKJV If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go; whatever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. BSB BSB: If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.
28 AKJV But if any man say to you, This is offered in sacrifice to idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof: BSB BSB: But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—
29 AKJV Conscience, I say, not your own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? BSB BSB: the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?
30 AKJV For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? BSB BSB: If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 AKJV Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. BSB BSB: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
32 AKJV Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: BSB BSB: Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
33 AKJV Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. BSB BSB: as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.