Romans 14 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Danger of Criticism

14 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 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 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 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 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 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 we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 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 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

10 So why do you condemn another believer[a]? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of 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 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 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 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 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 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 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 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

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

Footnotes

  1. 14:10 Greek your brother; also in 14:10b, 13, 15, 21.
  2. 14:11 Or declare praise for God. Isa 49:18; 45:23 (Greek version).
  3. 14:21 Some manuscripts read to stumble or be offended or be weakened.
  4. 14:23 Some manuscripts place the text of 16:25-27 here.

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Romans 14 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

14 And him who is weak in the faith receive ye -- not to determinations of reasonings; 2 one doth believe that he may eat all things -- and he who is weak doth eat herbs; 3 let not him who is eating despise him who is not eating: and let not him who is not eating judge him who is eating, for God did...
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Romans 14 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

14 But take ye a frail man in belief, not in deemings of thoughts. [Forsooth take ye a sick man in belief, not in deceptions, or disputations, of thoughts.] 2 For another man believeth, that he may eat all things; but he that is frail [but he that is sick, or unsteadfast], eat worts. 3 He that eat...
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Romans 14 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

14 Be ready to take a person into the church even if he does not know and believe all you believe. Do not judge what he thinks about things. 2 One person believes he may eat anything. Another person, who does not believe that, eats only things that grow in the garden. 3 The one who eats anything mus...
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Romans 14 - World English Bible (WEB)

14 Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. 2 One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are y...
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Romans 14 - The Voice (VOICE)

14 It’s high time that you welcome all people weak in the faith without debating and disputing their opinions. 2 Here’s the issue: One person believes that nothing’s off the menu; he’ll eat any food put before him. But there’s another believer—we’ll call him the weaker—who eats only vegetables becau...
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Romans 14 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Unity in Community14 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of disputes about opinions. 2 One person has faith to eat anything, but the weak eats only vegetables. 3 Don’t let the one who eats disparage the one who does not eat, and don’t let the one who does not eat judge...
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Romans 14 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Do Not Judge Another14 As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions.[a] 2 One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; ...
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Romans 14 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Do Not Judge Another14 As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. 2 One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for...
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Romans 14 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

14 Receive the one who is weak in the faith, but not for passing judgment on his reasoning. 2 One believes that he may eat all things. And another, who is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 Do not let the one who eats treat the one who does not eat with contempt. And do not let the one who does not eat j...
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Romans 14 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Weak and the Strong14 Welcome someone who is weak in faith, but not in order to have disputes on difficult points. 2 One person believes it is all right to eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats should not despise the one who does not, and the one who does...
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Romans 14 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Do Not Judge Another14 Welcome those who are weak in faith,[a] but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions. 2 Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3 Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgement on those who...
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Romans 14 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Do Not Judge Another14 Welcome those who are weak in faith[a] but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.(A)2 Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables.(B)3 Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who ...
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Romans 14 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

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Romans 14 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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