The Law of Liberty

14 Accept(A) anyone who is weak in faith,[a](B) but don’t argue about doubtful issues. One person believes he may eat anything,(C) but one who is weak eats only vegetables. One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat,(D) and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does,(E) because God has accepted him.(F) Who are you to criticize(G) another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able[b] to make him stand.

One person considers one day to be above another day.(H) Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind.(I) Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord.[c] Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God;(J) and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.(K) If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.(L) Christ died and came to life(M) for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living.(N) 10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God.[d](O) 11 For it is written:

As I live, says the Lord,
every knee will bow to Me,(P)
and every tongue will give praise to God.(Q)[e]

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:1 Or weak in the Faith
  2. Romans 14:4 Other mss read For God has the power
  3. Romans 14:6 Other mss add but whoever does not observe the day, it is to the Lord that he does not observe it
  4. Romans 14:10 Other mss read of Christ
  5. Romans 14:11 Is 45:23; 49:18

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