1 R eceive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

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 he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

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

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

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 are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able 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 O ne person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

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 who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to 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 lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

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

8 F or if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live 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 died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and 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 do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of 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, says the L ord, 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 of us shall give account of himself to God.

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

13 T herefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. The Law of Love

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 am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything 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 Y et if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one 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 T herefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

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

17 f or the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, 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 who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

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

19 T herefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

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 D o not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the 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 meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

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 D o you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

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 B ut he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from 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.