1 Corinthians, 8

1. Now about food which has been dedicated to false gods. We are well aware that all of us have knowledge; but while knowledge puffs up, love is what builds up.

1. Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2. Someone may think that he has full knowledge of something and yet not know it as well as he should;

2. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

3. but someone who loves God is known by God.

3. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

4. On the subject of eating foods dedicated to false gods, we are well aware that none of the false gods exists in reality and that there is no God other than the One.

4. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.

5. Though there are so-called gods, in the heavens or on earth -- and there are plenty of gods and plenty of lords-

5. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6. yet for us there is only one God, the Father from whom all things come and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist.

6. But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.

7. However, not everybody has this knowledge. There are some in whose consciences false gods still play such a part that they take the food as though it had been dedicated to a god; then their conscience, being vulnerable, is defiled,

7. Howbeit [there is] not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat [it] as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8. But of course food cannot make us acceptable to God; we lose nothing by not eating it, we gain nothing by eating it.

8. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

9. Only be careful that this freedom of yours does not in any way turn into an obstacle to trip those who are vulnerable.

9. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

10. Suppose someone sees you, who have the knowledge, sitting eating in the temple of some false god, do you not think that his conscience, vulnerable as it is, may be encouraged to eat foods dedicated to false gods?

10. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11. And then it would be through your knowledge that this brother for whom Christ died, vulnerable as he is, has been lost.

11. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12. So, sinning against your brothers and wounding their vulnerable consciences, you would be sinning against Christ.

12. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13. That is why, if food can be the cause of a brother's downfall, I will never eat meat any more, rather than cause my brother's downfall.

13. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.