24 aDo you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives bthe prize? cRun in such a way that you may win.

25 Everyone who acompetes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable bwreath, but we an imperishable.

26 Therefore I arun in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not bbeating the air;

27 but I 1discipline amy body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Chapter 10

Avoid Israel’s Mistakes

1 For aI do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all bunder the cloud and all cpassed through the sea;

2 and all were abaptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 and all aate the same spiritual food;

4 and all adrank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was 1Christ.

5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for athey were laid low in the wilderness.

6 Now these things happened as aexamples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as bthey also craved.

7 Do not be aidolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “bThe people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to cplay.”

8 Nor let us act immorally, as asome of them 1did, and btwenty-three thousand fell in one day.

9 Nor let us try the Lord, as asome of them 1did, and were destroyed by the serpents.

10 Nor agrumble, as some of them 1did, and bwere destroyed by the cdestroyer.

11 Now these things happened to them as an aexample, and bthey were written for our instruction, upon whom cthe ends of the ages have come.

12 Therefore let him who athinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and aGod is faithful, who will not allow you to be btempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.