1 N ow concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

2 B ut if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.

If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know;

3 B ut if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.

but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

4 T herefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.

5 F or though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth; as there are many “gods” and many “lords”;

For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,

6 y et to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

7 H owever, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of the idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 B ut food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.

9 B ut be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

10 F or if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

11 A nd through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

12 T hus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

13 T herefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.

Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.