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13 no longer, therefore, may we judge one another, but this judge ye rather, not to put a stumbling-stone before the brother, or an offence.

14 I have known, and am persuaded, in the Lord Jesus, that nothing [is] unclean of itself, except to him who is reckoning anything to be unclean -- to that one [it is] unclean;

15 and if through victuals thy brother is grieved, no more dost thou walk according to love; do not with thy victuals destroy that one for whom Christ died.

16 Let not, then, your good be evil spoken of,

17 for the reign of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit;

18 for he who in these things is serving the Christ, [is] acceptable to God and approved of men.

19 So, then, the things of peace may we pursue, and the things of building up one another;

20 for the sake of victuals cast not down the work of God; all things, indeed, [are] pure, but evil [is] to the man who is eating through stumbling.

21 Right [it is] not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to [do anything] in which thy brother doth stumble, or is made to fall, or is weak.

22 Thou hast faith! to thyself have [it] before God; happy is he who is not judging himself in what he doth approve,

23 and he who is making a difference, if he may eat, hath been condemned, because [it is] not of faith; and all that [is] not of faith is sin.

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13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment(A) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.(B) 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(C) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(D) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(E) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(F) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(G) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(H) but of righteousness, peace(I) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(J) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(K)

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(L) and to mutual edification.(M) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(N) All food is clean,(O) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(P) 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.(Q)

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn(R) himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts(S) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.