Romans, 14

1. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.

1. Welcome those weak in faith and do not criticize their scruples.

2. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

2. Some think they can eat any food, while others, less liberated, eat only vegetables.

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.

3. If you eat, do not despise those who abstain; if you abstain, do not criticize those who eat, for God has welcomed them.

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.

4. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? Whether he stands or falls, the one concerned is his master. But he will not fall, for his master is able to keep him standing.

5. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

5. For some, there are good and bad days; for others, all days are equal. Let us act according to our own opinion.

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.

6. The one who distinguishes among days does that for the Lord; and the one who eats eats for the Lord and in eating gives thanks to the Lord. And the one who does not eat does it for the Lord and gives him thanks as well.

7. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

7. In fact, none of us lives for himself, nor dies for 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.

8. If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Either in life or in death, we belong to the Lord;

9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

9. Christ experienced death and life to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

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.

10. Then you, why do you criticize your brother or sister? And you, why do you despise them? For we will all appear at the tribunal of God.

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

11. It is written: I swear by myself - word of the Lord - every knee will bend before me, and every tongue shall confess truth before God.

12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

12. So each of us will account for himself before 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.

13. Therefore, let us not continue criticizing one another; let us try, rather, never to put in the way of our brother anything that would make him stumble or fall.

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.

14. I know, I am sure of this in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself, it is only unclean for those who consider it 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.

15. But if you hurt your brother or sister because of a certain food, you are no longer walking according to love. Let not your eating cause the loss of one for whom Christ died.

16. Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

16. Don't put yourself in the wrong with something good.

17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

17. The kingdom of God is not a matter of food or drink; it is justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

18. For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men.

18. and if you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be praised by people.

19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

19. Let us look, then, for what strengthens peace and makes us better.

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.

20. Do not destroy the work of God because of food. All food is clean, but it becomes unclean for the one who eats against his own belief.

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.

21. And it may be better not to eat meat, or drink wine, or anything else that causes your brother or sister to stumble.

22. Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

22. Keep your own belief before God, and happy are you if you never act against your own belief.

23. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

23. Instead, whoever eats something in spite of his doubt is doing wrong, because he does not act according to his belief, and whatever we do against our conscience is sinful.