New King James Version

New Living Translation

The Law of Liberty

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

The Danger of Criticism

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

2

For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

2

For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.

3

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

3

Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

4

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.

4

Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

5

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

5

In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.

6

He who 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 he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

6

Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.

7

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

7

For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

8

For if we 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.

8

If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

9

For to this end Christ died [b]and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

9

Christ died and rose again for this very purpose — to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

10

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of [c]Christ.

10

So why do you condemn another believera? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

11

For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”

11

For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the LORD,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.b’”

12

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

12

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

13

Therefore let us not judge one another [d]anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

13

So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

14

The Law of Love

I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

14

I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.

15

Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

15

And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.

16

Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

16

Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.

17

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

17

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

18

For he who serves Christ in [e]these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

18

If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.

19

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may [f]edify another.

19

So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

20

Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with [g]offense.

20

Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.

21

It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles [h]or is offended or is made weak.

21

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.c

22

[i]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

22

You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.

23

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is [j]sin.

23

But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.d

Parallel

New King James Version

New Living Translation

Romans 14

Romans 14