1 Corinthians 8, side by side

¹Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

¹Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

²The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

²And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

³But the one who loves God is known by God.

³But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

⁴So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.

⁴As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

⁵For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),

⁵For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

⁶yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

⁶But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

⁷But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

⁷Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

⁸But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

⁸But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

⁹Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

⁹But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

¹⁰For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?

¹⁰For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

¹¹So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

¹¹And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

¹²By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

¹²But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

¹³Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

¹³Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.