Warnings from Israel’s Past (Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)
1 UEB I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, that our fathers were all 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 UEB All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, BSB BSB: They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
3 UEB and all ate the same spiritual food. BSB BSB: They all ate the same spiritual food
4 UEB All drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a 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 UEB But God was not well pleased with most of them, and their corpses were scattered about in the wilderness. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.
6 UEB Now these things were examples for us, so we would not long for evil things as they did. BSB BSB: These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
7 UEB Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. This is 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 UEB Let us not commit sexual immorality, as many of them did. In one day, twenty-three thousand people died because of it. BSB BSB: We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
9 UEB Neither let us put Christ to the test, as many of them did and were destroyed by snakes. BSB BSB: We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
10 UEB Also do not grumble, as many of them did and were destroyed by an angel of death. BSB BSB: And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 UEB Now these things happened to them as examples for us. They were written for our instruction—for us on whom the end of the ages has 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 UEB Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall. BSB BSB: So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
13 UEB No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to all humanity. Instead, God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. With the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, so that you may be able to endure 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 UEB Therefore, my loved ones, run away from idolatry. BSB BSB: Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 UEB I speak to you as people who have understanding, so you may judge what I say. BSB BSB: I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 UEB The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in 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 UEB Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body. We all take of one loaf of bread together. BSB BSB: Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
18 UEB Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? BSB BSB: Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?
19 UEB What am I saying then? That an idol is anything? Or that food sacrificed to an idol is anything? BSB BSB: Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 UEB But I say about the things the Gentile pagans sacrifice, that they offer these things to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons! 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 UEB You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot have fellowship at the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 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 UEB Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? 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 UEB "Everything is lawful," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds people up. BSB BSB: “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
24 UEB No one should seek his own good. Instead, each one should seek the good of his neighbor. BSB BSB: No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25 UEB You may eat whatever is sold in the market, without questions of conscience. BSB BSB: Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
26 UEB For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it." BSB BSB: for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
27 UEB If an unbeliever invites you to eat a meal, and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you without asking questions of conscience. 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 UEB But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 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 UEB the conscience of the other man, I mean, and not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another'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 UEB If I partake of the meal with gratitude, why am I being insulted for that for which I gave thanks? BSB BSB: If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 UEB Therefore, whether 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 UEB Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks, or to the church of God. BSB BSB: Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
33 UEB I try to please all people in all things. I do not seek my benefit, but that of the many. I do this so 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.