1 Khawrin 8

1 Tahae ah mueirhol buh kah a kawng te mingnah boeih n'khueh uh tila m'ming uh. Mingnah loh hoemawk cakhaw lungnah loh a hlinsai.

Now about things offered to images: we all seem to ourselves to have knowledge. Knowledge gives pride, but love gives true strength.

2 Pakhat loh bet ka ming coeng tila a poek atah a ming ham a kuek pataeng ming hlan.

If anyone seems to himself to have knowledge, so far he has not the right sort of knowledge about anything;

3 Tedae pakhat loh Pathen te a lungnah atah Pathen loh anih te a ming coeng.

But if anyone has love for God, God has knowledge of him.

4 Mueirhol buh dongkah caak kawng dongah mueirhol tah Diklai ah a honghi ni tila m'ming uh. Amah pakhat pawt atah Pathen a tloe khaw a om moenih.

So, then, as to the question of taking food offered to images, we are certain that an image is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.

5 Pathen a ti uh rhoek mah vaan ah khaw diklai ah khaw a om uh atah pathen kak neh boei kak om uh tangloeng ta.

For though there are those who have the name of gods, in heaven or on earth, as there are a number of gods and a number of lords,

6 Mamih ham tah a pa Pathen pakhat ni aka om. A cungkuem he amah lamkah tih mamih khaw amah dongah n'omuh. Te phoeiah Boeipa Jesuh Khrih pakhat bueng om tih amah lamloh a cungkuem te om. Mamih khaw anih dongah n'omuh.

There is for us only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we are for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we have our being through him.

7 Tedae hlang boeih taengah mingnah om pawh. Tedae a ngen kah khosing tah tahae duela mueirhol taengkah mueirhol buh bangla a caak uh. Te dongah amih tattloel kah mingcimnah tah a tii om.

Still, all men have not that knowledge: but some, being used till now to the image, are conscious that they are taking food which has been offered to the image; and because they are not strong in the faith, their minds are troubled.

8 Tedae cakok loh Pathen taengah mamih n'tueng sak moenih. N'caak uh pawt akhaw m'vawt uh tloe moenih. N'caak uh akhaw n'hoeikhang uh tloe moenih.

But God's approval of us is not based on the food we take: if we do not take it we are no worse for it; and if we take it we are no better.

9 Tedae, nangmih kah saithainah loh aka tattloel rhoek taengah caehkoek la a om tholh pawt ham ngaithuen uh.

But take care that this power of yours does not give cause for trouble to the feeble.

10 Nangmih mingnah aka khueh khat khat loh mueirhol bawkim ah buh na vael te uh koinih a mingcimnah dongah tattloel la aka om loh mueirhol buh te caak ham moo mahpawt nim.

For if a man sees you, who have knowledge, taking food as a guest in the house of an image, will it not give him, if he is feeble, the idea that he may take food offered to images?

11 Te dongah na mingnah loh aka tattloel te a poci sak coeng. Manuca anih ham Khrih duek van dae ta.

And so, through your knowledge, you are the cause of destruction to your brother, for whom Christ underwent death.

12 Manuca rhoek taengah khaw aka tholh tih a boh dongah mingcimnah aka vawtthoek sak tah Khrih taengah na tholh.

And in this way, doing evil to the brothers, and causing trouble to those whose faith is feeble, you are sinning against Christ.

13 Te dongah cakok loh ka manuca te a khah atah kumhal ah maeh ka ca voel mahpawh. Te daengah ni ka manuca te ka khah pawt eh. (aiōn g165)

For this reason, if food is a cause of trouble to my brother, I will give up taking meat for ever, so that I may not be a cause of trouble to my brother. (aiōn g165)