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Romans 14

Don't judge one another over disputable matters — food, holy days, and the like. Each of us will answer to God; make up your mind not to put a stumbling block in a brother's way.

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Do not judge over disputable matters

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgement seat. It is written: As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God. So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

1

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters.

King James Version, 1611

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

2

One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.

King James Version, 1611

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3

The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

King James Version, 1611

Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

4

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

King James Version, 1611

Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

5

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

King James Version, 1611

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6

Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

King James Version, 1611

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

7

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.

King James Version, 1611

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

8

If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

9

For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

King James Version, 1611

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

10

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgement seat.

King James Version, 1611

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11

It is written: As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.

King James Version, 1611

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

King James Version, 1611

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Do not cause stumbling

Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

13

Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

King James Version, 1611

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

14

I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.

King James Version, 1611

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

15

If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.

King James Version, 1611

But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

16

Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.

King James Version, 1611

Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

King James Version, 1611

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18

because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

King James Version, 1611

For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

King James Version, 1611

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

20

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.

King James Version, 1611

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

King James Version, 1611

It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22

So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

King James Version, 1611

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23

But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

King James Version, 1611

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.