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The Law of Liberty

14 Receive(A) one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he (B)may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and (C)let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. (D)Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

(E)One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who (F)observes the day, observes it to the Lord; [a]and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for (G)he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For (H)none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we (I)live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For (J)to this end Christ died [b]and rose and lived again, that He might be (K)Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For (L)we shall all stand before the judgment seat of [c]Christ. 11 For it is written:

(M)As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then (N)each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another [d]anymore, but rather resolve this, (O)not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

The Law of Love

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus (P)that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. (Q)Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 (R)Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 (S)for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and (T)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in [e]these things (U)is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 (V)Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which (W)one may [f]edify another. 20 (X)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. (Y)All things indeed are pure, (Z)but it is evil for the man who eats with [g]offense. 21 It is good neither to eat (AA)meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles [h]or is offended or is made weak. 22 [i]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. (AB)Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for (AC)whatever is not from faith is [j]sin.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:6 NU omits the rest of this sentence.
  2. Romans 14:9 NU omits and rose
  3. Romans 14:10 NU God
  4. Romans 14:13 any longer
  5. Romans 14:18 NU this thing
  6. Romans 14:19 build up
  7. Romans 14:20 A feeling of giving offense
  8. Romans 14:21 NU omits the rest of v. 21.
  9. Romans 14:22 NU The faith which you have—have
  10. Romans 14:23 M puts Rom. 16:25–27 here.

Welcoming each other like Christ

14 Welcome the person who is weak in faith—but not in order to argue about differences of opinion. One person believes in eating everything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Those who eat must not look down on the ones who don’t, and the ones who don’t eat must not judge the ones who do, because God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servants? They stand or fall before their own Lord (and they will stand, because the Lord has the power to make them stand). One person considers some days to be more sacred than others, while another person considers all days to be the same. Each person must have their own convictions. Someone who thinks that a day is sacred, thinks that way for the Lord. Those who eat, eat for the Lord, because they thank God. And those who don’t eat, don’t eat for the Lord, and they thank the Lord too. We don’t live for ourselves and we don’t die for ourselves. 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 God. This is why Christ died and lived: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you look down on your brother or sister? We all will stand in front of the judgment seat of God. 11 Because it is written,

As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me,
    and every tongue will give praise to God.[a]

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

13 So stop judging each other. Instead, this is what you should decide: never put a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of your brother or sister. 14 I know and I’m convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is wrong to eat in itself. But if someone thinks something is wrong to eat, it becomes wrong for that person. 15 If your brother or sister is upset by your food, you are no longer walking in love. Don’t let your food destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 And don’t let something you consider to be good be criticized as wrong. 17 God’s kingdom isn’t about eating food and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ this way pleases God and gets human approval.

19 So let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up. 20 Don’t destroy what God has done because of food. All food is acceptable, but it’s a bad thing if it trips someone else. 21 It’s a good thing not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that trips your brother or sister. 22 Keep the belief that you have to yourself—it’s between you and God. People are blessed who don’t convict themselves by the things they approve. 23 But those who have doubts are convicted if they go ahead and eat, because they aren’t acting on the basis of faith. Everything that isn’t based on faith is sin.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Los débiles y los fuertes

14 Reciban al que es débil en la fe, pero no para entrar en discusiones. A algunos su fe les permite comer de todo, pero hay quienes son débiles en la fe y solo comen verduras. El que come de todo no debe menospreciar al que no come ciertas cosas, y el que no come de todo no debe condenar al que lo hace, pues Dios lo ha aceptado. ¿Quién eres tú para juzgar al siervo de otro? Que se mantenga firme o que caiga es asunto de su propio señor. Y se mantendrá firme, porque el Señor tiene poder para sostenerlo.

Hay quien considera que un día tiene más importancia que otro, pero hay quien considera iguales todos los días. Cada uno debe estar firme en sus propias opiniones. El que le da importancia especial a cierto día, lo hace para el Señor. El que come de todo, come para el Señor y lo demuestra dándole gracias a Dios. El que no come, para el Señor se abstiene y también da gracias a Dios. Porque ninguno de nosotros vive para sí mismo ni tampoco muere para sí. Si vivimos, para el Señor vivimos; y si morimos, para el Señor morimos. Así pues, sea que vivamos o que muramos, del Señor somos. Para esto mismo murió Cristo y volvió a vivir, para ser Señor tanto de los que han muerto como de los que aún viven. 10 Tú, entonces, ¿por qué juzgas a tu hermano? O tú, ¿por qué lo menosprecias? ¡Todos tendremos que comparecer ante el tribunal de Dios! 11 Está escrito:

«Tan cierto como que yo vivo», dice el Señor,
«ante mí se doblará toda rodilla
    y toda lengua confesará a Dios».[a]

12 Así que cada uno de nosotros tendrá que dar cuentas de sí a Dios.

13 Por tanto, dejemos de juzgarnos unos a otros. Más bien, propónganse no poner tropiezos ni obstáculos al hermano. 14 Yo, de mi parte, estoy plenamente convencido en el Señor Jesús de que no hay nada impuro en sí mismo. Si algo es impuro, lo es solamente para quien así lo considera. 15 Ahora bien, si tu hermano se angustia por causa de lo que comes, ya no te comportas con amor. No destruyas, por causa de la comida, al hermano por quien Cristo murió. 16 En una palabra, no den lugar a que se hable mal del bien que ustedes practican, 17 porque el reino de Dios no es cuestión de comidas o bebidas, sino de justicia, paz y alegría en el Espíritu Santo. 18 El que de esta manera sirve a Cristo agrada a Dios y es aprobado por sus semejantes.

19 Por lo tanto, esforcémonos por promover todo lo que conduzca a la paz y a la mutua edificación. 20 No destruyas la obra de Dios por causa de la comida. Todo alimento es puro; lo malo es hacer tropezar a otros por lo que uno come. 21 Más vale no comer carne ni beber vino, ni hacer nada que haga caer a tu hermano.

22 Así que la convicción[b] que tengas tú al respecto, mantenla como algo entre Dios y tú. Dichoso aquel a quien su conciencia no lo acusa por lo que hace. 23 Pero el que tiene dudas en cuanto a lo que come se condena; porque no lo hace por convicción. Y todo lo que no se hace por convicción es pecado.

Footnotes

  1. 14:11 Is 45:23.
  2. 14:22 convicción. Lit. fe; también en v. 23.

The Weak and the Strong

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak,(A) without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.(B) The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt(C) the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge(D) the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?(E) To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another;(F) another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God;(G) and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone,(H) and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If 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.(I) For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life(J) so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.(K)

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt?(L) For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.(M) 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’(N) says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b](O)

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

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

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(AB) and to mutual edification.(AC) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(AD) All food is clean,(AE) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(AF) 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.(AG)

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

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:10 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verses 13, 15 and 21.
  2. Romans 14:11 Isaiah 45:23
  3. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.