1 ¶ Bear with the one who is sick in the faith, but not unto doubtful discernment.

As for the man who is a weak believer, welcome him, but not to criticize his opinions or pass judgment on his scruples or perplex him with discussions.

2 F or one believes that he may eat all things; another, who is sick, eats vegetables.

One believe he may eat anything, while a weaker one eating to vegetables.

3 L et not him that eats despise him that does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him that eats; for God has raised him up.

Let not him who eats look down on or despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize and pass judgment on him who eats; for God has accepted and welcomed him.

4 W ho art thou that judgest another man’s servant? By his own master he stands or falls; and if he falls, he shall be made to stand, for God is powerful to make him stand.

Who are you to pass judgment on and censure another’s household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand.

5 A lso, some make a difference between one day and another; others esteem every day alike. Let each one be fully persuaded in his own soul.

One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind.

6 H e that observes the day, let him observe it unto the Lord; and he that does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He that eats, eats unto the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he that does not eat, unto the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

7 F or none of us live for ourselves, and no one dies for himself.

None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself

8 F or if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

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

9 F or to this end Christ both died and rose and revived: to thus exercise lordship over the dead as well as over the living.

For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 B ut why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou belittle thy brother? for we shall all stand before the tribunal of the Christ.

Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.

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

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

12 S o then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

And so each of us shall give an account of himself to God.

13 L et us, therefore, not 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.

Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.

14 I know and trust in the Lord Jesus that for his sake there is nothing unclean, but to him that esteems any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

I know and am convinced (persuaded) as one in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is essentially unclean (defiled and unholy in itself). But it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to anyone who thinks it is unclean.

15 B ut if thy brother is grieved because of thy food, now thou dost not walk in charity. Do not destroy him with thy food, for whom Christ died.

But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died!

16 L et not then your good be evil spoken of;

Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing.

17 f or the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

the kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

18 F or he that in these things serves the Christ is well pleasing unto God and approved of men.

He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men.

19 L et us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace and the edification of each one to the others.

So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another.

20 B ecause of food, do not destroy the work of God. All things indeed are clean, but it is evil for that man who eats with offense.

You must not, for the sake of food, undo and break down and destroy the work of God! Everything is indeed clean and pure, but it is wrong for anyone to hurt the conscience of others or to make them fall by what he eats.

21 I t is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine nor do any thing by which thy brother stumbles or is offended or is sick.

The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no wine, or if it makes your brother stumble or hurts his conscience or offends or weakens him.

22 T hou hast faith; have it to thyself before God. Blessed is he that does not condemn himself with that thing which he allows.

Your personal convictions —exercise as in God’s presence, keeping them to yourself. Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves.

23 A nd he that makes a difference is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat by faith; and whatsoever is not out of faith is sin.

But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats, stands condemned, because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin.