Romans 14

1 Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of arguing over differences of opinion.ISV — Romans 14:1

2 One person believes that he may eat anything, while the weak ^{a14:2 Or ill} person eats only ^{b14:2 The Gk. lacks only} vegetables.ISV — Romans 14:2

3 The person who eats any kind of food ^{c14:3 The Gk. lacks any kind of food} must not ridicule the person who does not eat them, ^{d14:3 The Gk. lacks them} and the person who does not eat certain foods ^{e14:3 The Gk. lacks certain foods} must not criticize the person who eats them, ^{f14:3 The Gk. lacks them} for God has accepted him.ISV — Romans 14:3

4 Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? He stands or falls before his own Lord—and stand he will, because the Lord ^{g14:4 Other mss. read because God} makes him stand.ISV — Romans 14:4

5 One person decides in favor of one day over another, while another person decides that all days are the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind:ISV — Romans 14:5

6 The one who observes a special day, ^{h14:6 Lit. the day} observes it to honor the Lord. The one who eats, eats to honor the Lord, since he gives thanks to God. And the one who does not eat, refrains from eating to honor the Lord; yet he, too, gives thanks to God.ISV — Romans 14:6

7 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.ISV — Romans 14:7

8 If we live, we live to honor the Lord; and if we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.ISV — Romans 14:8

9 For this reason the Messiah ^{i14:9 Or Christ} died and returned to life, so that he might become the Lord of both the dead and the living.ISV — Romans 14:9

10 Why, then, do you criticize your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For all of us will stand before the judgment seat of God. ^{j14:10 Other mss. read of the Messiah}ISV — Romans 14:10

11 For it is written, “As certainly as I live, declares the Lord, ^{k14:11 MT source citation reads LORD} every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will praise ^{l14:11 Or confess} God.” ^{m14:11 Cf. Isa 49:18; 45:23}ISV — Romans 14:11

12 Consequently, each of us will give an account of himself to God.ISV — Romans 14:12

13 Therefore, let’s no longer criticize ^{n14:13 Or let’s not criticize} each other. Instead, make up your mind not to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.ISV — Romans 14:13

14 I know—and have been persuaded by the Lord Jesus—that nothing is unclean in and of itself, but it is unclean to a person who thinks it is unclean.ISV — Romans 14:14

15 For if your brother is being hurt by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not destroy the person for whom the Messiah ^{o14:15 Or Christ} died by what you eat.ISV — Romans 14:15

16 Do not allow what seems good to you to be spoken of as evil.ISV — Romans 14:16

17 For God’s kingdom does not consist of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy produced by the Holy Spirit.ISV — Romans 14:17

18 For the person who serves the Messiah ^{p14:18 Or Christ} in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.ISV — Romans 14:18

19 Therefore, let’s keep on pursuing those things that bring peace and that lead to building up one another.ISV — Romans 14:19

20 Do not destroy God’s action for the sake of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make another person stumble because of what you eat.ISV — Romans 14:20

21 The right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that makes your brother stumble, upset, or weak. ^{q14:21 Other mss. lack upset, or weak}ISV — Romans 14:21

22 As for the faith you do have, have it as your own conviction before God. How blessed is the person who has no reason to condemn himself because of what he approves!ISV — Romans 14:22

23 But the person who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not act in faith; and anything that is not done in faith is sin.ISV — Romans 14:23