Warnings from Israel’s Past (Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)
1 ULT For I do not want you to be ignorant, 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 ULT and they 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 ULT and they all ate the same spiritual food, BSB BSB: They all ate the same spiritual food
4 ULT and they all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock following{ them}, and the 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 ULT But God was not well pleased with most of them, for they 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 ULT Now these things became examples for us so that we would not be ones desiring evil things, just as they also desired. BSB BSB: These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
7 ULT Do not become idolaters, just as some of them{ were}; even as it is written,“The people sat down to eat and to 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 ULT Nor should we commit sexual immorality, just as many of them committed sexual immorality, and 23, 000 people fell in one day. BSB BSB: We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
9 ULT Nor should we put the Lord to the test, just as many of them put{ him} to the test and were destroyed by the snakes. BSB BSB: We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
10 ULT Do not grumble, even as many of them grumbled and were destroyed by the destroyer. BSB BSB: And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 ULT Now these things happened to them{ as} examples, but they were written for our admonition, 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 ULT Therefore, the one thinking he stands, let him be careful that he might not fall. BSB BSB: So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
13 ULT No temptation has seized you except{ what is} common to humanity; but God{ is} faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape,{ so that} you will 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 ULT Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry. BSB BSB: Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 ULT I speak as to sensible{ people}. Judge for yourselves what I say. BSB BSB: I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 ULT The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing 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 ULT Because{ there is} one bread, we the many{ are} one body; for we all partake from the 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 ULT Look at Israel according to the flesh; are not the ones eating 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 ULT What am I saying then: that{ food} sacrificed to idols is anything, or that 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 ULT Rather, that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. But I do not want you to be partakers with the 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 ULT You are not able to drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You are not able to partake of the table of the Lord and of 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 ULT Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than him, are we? 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 ULT “All{ things are} lawful,” but not all{ things are} beneficial.“All{ things are} lawful,” but not all things build up. BSB BSB: “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
24 ULT Let no one seek his own good, but that of the other{ person}. BSB BSB: No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25 ULT Eat everything that is being sold in the market, without asking for the sake of the conscience. BSB BSB: Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
26 ULT 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 ULT If any of the unbelievers invite you, and you want to go, eat everything being set before you, without asking questions for the sake of the 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 ULT But if someone says to you,“This is offered in sacrifice,” do not eat{ it}, for the sake of that one having informed you, and 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 ULT now I say the conscience, not your own, but that of the other{ person}. For why{ is} my freedom 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 ULT If I partake with gratitude, why am I insulted for that 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 ULT 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 ULT Give no offense either 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 ULT just as I also please all{ people} in all things, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, so that they might 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.