1As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. (Ro 15:1; 1Co 8:9; 1Co 9:22)2One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. (Ro 14:14)3Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. (Col 2:16)4Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master[1] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Jas 4:12)5One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. (Zec 7:5; Ro 14:23; Ga 4:10)6The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. (Mt 15:36; 1Co 10:30; 1Ti 4:3)7For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. (1Co 6:19; 2Co 5:15; Ga 2:20; 1Th 5:10; 1Pe 4:2)8For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. (Php 1:20)9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Ac 10:42; Re 1:18; Re 2:8; Re 20:12)10Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; (Ro 14:9; 2Co 5:10)11for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess[2] to God.” (Isa 45:23; Php 2:10)12So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Mt 12:36; Mt 16:27; Ga 6:5; 1Pe 4:5)
Do Not Cause Another to Stumble
13Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. (Mt 7:1; 1Co 8:13)14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (Ac 10:15; Ro 14:2; Ro 14:20; 1Co 8:7; 1Co 8:10)15For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. (Ro 14:20; 1Co 8:11; Eph 5:2)16So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. (Ro 12:17; 1Co 10:29)17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Ro 15:13; 1Co 6:9; 1Co 8:8; Ga 5:22)18Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (2Co 8:21)19So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Ps 34:14; Ro 15:2; 1Co 7:15; 1Co 14:12; 2Ti 2:22)20Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. (Ro 14:14; Ro 14:15; 1Co 8:9; Tit 1:15)21It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.[3] (1Co 8:13)22The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (1Jo 3:21)23But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.[4]
Romans 14
New International Version
The weak and the strong
1Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters.2One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.3The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.5One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.6Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.7For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.8If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.10You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[1]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.11It is written: ‘ “As surely as I live,” says the Lord, “Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.” ’ (Isa 45:23)12So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling-block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.14I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.15If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.16Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.23But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[2]
Romans 14
King James Version
1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.3Let 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.4Who 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.5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.6He 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.7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.8For 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.9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.10But 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.11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.13Let 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.14I 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.15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.16Let not then your good be evil spoken of:17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Romans 14
New International Reader’s Version
The weak and the strong
1Accept the person whose faith is weak. Don’t argue with them where you have differences of opinion.2One person’s faith allows them to eat anything. But another person eats only vegetables because their faith is weak.3The person who eats everything must not look down on the one who does not. And the one who doesn’t eat everything must not judge the person who does. That’s because God has accepted them.4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? Whether they are faithful or not is their own master’s concern. And they will be faithful, because the Lord has the power to make them faithful.5One person considers one day to be more holy than another. Another person thinks all days are the same. Each of them should be absolutely sure in their own mind.6Whoever thinks that one day is special does so to honour the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to honour the Lord. They give thanks to God. And whoever doesn’t eat meat does so to honour the Lord. They also give thanks to God.7We don’t live for ourselves only. And we don’t die for ourselves only.8If we live, we live to honour the Lord. If we die, we die to honour the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.9Christ died and came back to life. He did this to become the Lord of both the dead and the living.10Now then, who are you to judge your brother or sister? Why do you act like you’re better than they are? We will all stand in God’s courtroom to be judged.11It is written, ‘ “You can be sure that I live,” says the Lord. “And you can be just as sure that everyone will kneel down in front of me. Every tongue will have to tell the truth about God.” ’ (Isa 45:23)12So we will all have to explain to God the things we have done.13Let us stop judging one another. Instead, decide not to put anything in the way of a brother or sister. Don’t put anything in their way that would make them trip and fall.14I am absolutely sure that nothing is ‘unclean’ in itself. The Lord Jesus has convinced me of this. But someone may consider a thing to be ‘unclean’. If they do, it is ‘unclean’ for them.15Your brother or sister may be upset by what you eat. If they are, you are no longer acting as though you love them. So don’t destroy them by what you eat. Remember that Christ died for them.16So suppose you know something is good. Then don’t let it be spoken of as if it were evil.17God’s kingdom is not about eating or drinking. It is about doing what is right and having peace and joy. All this comes through the Holy Spirit.18Those who serve Christ in this way are pleasing to God. They are pleasing to people too.19So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build up one another.20Don’t destroy the work of God because of food. All food is ‘clean’. But it’s wrong to eat anything that might cause problems for someone else’s faith.21Don’t eat meat if it causes your brother or sister to sin. Don’t drink wine or do anything else that will make them sin.22Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the person who doesn’t feel guilty for what they do.23But whoever has doubts about what they eat is guilty if they eat. That’s because their eating is not based on faith. Everything that is not based on faith is sin.