Warnings from Israel’s Past (Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)
1 RV For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, how 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 RV and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; BSB BSB: They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
3 RV and did all eat the same spiritual meat; BSB BSB: They all ate the same spiritual food
4 RV and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed 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 RV Howbeit with most 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 RV 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 RV 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. 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 RV 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 RV Neither let us tempt the Lord, as some of them tempted, and perished by the serpents. BSB BSB: We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
10 RV Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. BSB BSB: And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 RV 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. 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 RV Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. BSB BSB: So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
13 RV 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. 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 RV Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. BSB BSB: Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 RV I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. BSB BSB: I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say.
16 RV 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? 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 RV seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of 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 RV Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they which eat the sacrifices communion with the altar? BSB BSB: Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?
19 RV What say I then? that a thing 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 RV 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. 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 RV 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. 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 RV Or 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 RV All things are lawful; but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful; but all things edify not. BSB BSB: “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
24 RV Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbour’s good . BSB BSB: No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25 RV Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience sake; BSB BSB: Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
26 RV for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. BSB BSB: for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
27 RV 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. 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 RV 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: 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 RV conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other’s; for why is my liberty judged by another 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 RV If I by grace partake, 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 RV Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye 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 RV Give no occasion of stumbling, 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 RV 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. 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.