Romans

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans, chapter 14, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 14 New English Translation

Exhortation to Mutual Forbearance

   1 Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions. 2 One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on another's servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the LORD is able to make him stand.
   5 One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day does it for the LORD. The one who eats, eats for the LORD because he gives thanks to God, and the one who abstains from eating abstains for the LORD, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself and none dies for himself. 8 If we live, we live for the LORD; if we die, we die for the LORD. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the LORD's. 9 For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the LORD of both the dead and the living.
   10 But you who eat vegetables only - why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything - why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, "As I live, says the LORD, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God." 12 Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Exhortation for the Strong not to Destroy the Weak

   13 Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister. 14 I know and am convinced in the LORD Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean. 15 For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.
   19 So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith you have, keep to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.

King James Version

   1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
   2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
   3 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 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 man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
   6 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 liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
   8 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 to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
   10 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 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 every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
   13 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 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 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 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
   17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
   18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
   19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
   20 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 good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
   22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
   23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.