Warnings from Israel’s Past (Numbers 16:41–50; Numbers 25:1–5)
1 WBS Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, 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 WBS 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 WBS And all ate the same spiritual food; BSB BSB: They all ate the same spiritual food
4 WBS And all drank 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS Neither let us commit lewdness, 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 WBS Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents. BSB BSB: We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
10 WBS Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, 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 WBS Now all these things happened to them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon 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 WBS 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 WBS There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye 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 WBS Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. BSB BSB: Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they who 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 WBS What then do I say? 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 WBS But I say , that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship 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 WBS Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS Whatever is sold in the provision market, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake: BSB BSB: Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
26 WBS For the earth is the Lord's, and its fullness. BSB BSB: for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
27 WBS If any of them that believe not invites you to a feast , and ye are disposed to go; whatever is set before you, eat, asking no question on account 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 WBS But if any man shall 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 its fullness: 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 WBS Conscience, I say, not thy own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged by 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 WBS For if I by grace am 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 WBS Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatever 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 WBS Give no 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 WBS 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.