(24)Know ye not that they who run in a race, all indeed run, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (25)And every one who contends for the prize is temperate in all things; they indeed to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. (26)I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; I so fight, as not beating the air. (27)But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest haply, having preached to others, I myself should be rejected. X. FOR I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2)and were all immersed unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3)and all ate the same spiritual food, (4)and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. (5)But in the most of them God had no pleasure; for they were overthrown in the wilderness. (6)Now these things were examples to us, in order that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (7)Nor 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. (8)Nor let us commit fornication, as some of them did, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. (9)Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and perished by the serpents. (10)Nor murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. (11)Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. (12)Wherefore let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. (13)There has no temptation taken you but such as belongs to man; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted beyond what ye are able, but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (14)Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (15)I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. (16)The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a partaking of the blood of Christ? The loaf which we break, is it not a partaking of the body of Christ? (17)Because we, the many, are one loaf, one body; for we all share in that one loaf. (18)Behold Israel according to the flesh. Are not they who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? (19)What then do I say? That an idol is anything, or that what is offered to idols is anything? (20)Nay; but that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I would not that ye should be partakers of the demons. (21)Ye can not drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons; ye can not share in the table of the Lord, and the table of demons. (22)Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (23)All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient; all things are lawful, but not all things edify. (24)Let no one seek his own, but his neighbor's good.