1 Corinthians 8

New International Version

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:^(A) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”^(B) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. ²Those who think they know something^(C) do not yet know as they ought to know.^(D) ³But whoever loves God is known by God.^[a]^(E)

⁴So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:^(F) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”^(G) and that “There is no God but one.”^(H) ⁵For even if there are so-called gods,^(I) whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), ⁶yet for us there is but one God,^(J) the Father,^(K) from whom all things came^(L) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,^(M) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came^(N) and through whom we live.

⁷But not everyone possesses this knowledge.^(O) Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak,^(P) it is defiled. ⁸But food does not bring us near to God;^(Q) we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

⁹Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block^(R) to the weak.^(S) ¹⁰For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?^(T) ¹¹So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed^(U) by your knowledge. ¹²When you sin against them^(V) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.^(W) ¹³Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.^(X)

Footnotes

1 Corinthians 8:3 An early manuscript and another ancient witness think they have knowledge do not yet know as they ought to know. ³But whoever loves truly knows.

Psalm 14-17

New International Version

Psalm 14^(A)

For the director of music. Of David.

¹The fool^[a] says in his heart,
“There is no God.”^(B)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

²The Lord looks down from heaven^(C)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,^(D)
    any who seek God.^(E)
³All have turned away,^(F) all have become corrupt;^(G)
    there is no one who does good,^(H)
    not even one.^(I)

⁴Do all these evildoers know nothing?^(J)

They devour my people^(K) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.^(L)
⁵But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
⁶You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.^(M)

⁷Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!^(N)
When the Lord restores^(O) his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

¹Lord, who may dwell^(P) in your sacred tent?^(Q)
Who may live on your holy mountain?^(R)

²The one whose walk is blameless,^(S)
    who does what is righteous,
    who speaks the truth^(T) from their heart;
³whose tongue utters no slander,^(U)
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
⁴who despises a vile person
    but honors^(V) those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath^(W) even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
⁵who lends money to the poor without interest;^(X)
    who does not accept a bribe^(Y) against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.^(Z)

Psalm 16

A miktam^[b] of David.

¹Keep me safe,^(AA) my God,
for in you I take refuge.^(AB)

²I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;^(AC)
    apart from you I have no good thing.”^(AD)
³I say of the holy people^(AE) who are in the land,^(AF)
    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
⁴Those who run after other gods^(AG) will suffer^(AH) more and more.
    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
    or take up their names^(AI) on my lips.

⁵Lord, you alone are my portion^(AJ) and my cup;^(AK)
    you make my lot^(AL) secure.
⁶The boundary lines^(AM) have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.^(AN)
⁷I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;^(AO)
    even at night^(AP) my heart instructs me.
⁸I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand,^(AQ) I will not be shaken.^(AR)

⁹Therefore my heart is glad^(AS) and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,^(AT)
¹⁰because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,^(AU)
    nor will you let your faithful^[c] one^(AV) see decay.^(AW)
¹¹You make known to me the path of life;^(AX)
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,^(AY)
    with eternal pleasures^(AZ) at your right hand.^(BA)

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

¹Hear me,^(BB) Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.^(BC)
Hear^(BD) my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.^(BE)
²Let my vindication^(BF) come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.^(BG)

³Though you probe my heart,^(BH)
    though you examine me at night and test me,^(BI)
you will find that I have planned no evil;^(BJ)
    my mouth has not transgressed.^(BK)
⁴Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
⁵My steps have held to your paths;^(BL)
    my feet have not stumbled.^(BM)

⁶I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;^(BN)
    turn your ear to me^(BO) and hear my prayer.^(BP)
⁷Show me the wonders of your great love,^(BQ)
    you who save by your right hand^(BR)
    those who take refuge^(BS) in you from their foes.
⁸Keep me^(BT) as the apple of your eye;^(BU)
    hide me^(BV) in the shadow of your wings^(BW)
⁹from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.^(BX)

¹⁰They close up their callous hearts,^(BY)
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.^(BZ)
¹¹They have tracked me down, they now surround me,^(CA)
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
¹²They are like a lion^(CB) hungry for prey,^(CC)
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

¹³Rise up,^(CD) Lord, confront them, bring them down;^(CE)
    with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
¹⁴By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
    from those of this world^(CF) whose reward is in this life.^(CG)
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    and may there be leftovers^(CH) for their little ones.

¹⁵As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake,^(CI) I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.^(CJ)

Footnotes

Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.
Psalm 16:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Psalm 16:10 Or holy