1 Corinthians 8

1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.

Now as to things which have been sacrificed to idols. This is a subject which we already understand--because we all have knowledge of it. Knowledge, however, tends to make people conceited; it is love that builds us up.

2 If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;

If any one imagines that he already possesses any true knowledge, he has as yet attained to no knowledge of the kind to which he ought to have attained;

3 but if any man loveth God, the same is known of him.

but if any one loves God, that man is known by God.

4 Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is [anything] in the world, and that there is no God but one.

As to eating things which have been sacrificed to idols, we are fully aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but One.

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

For if so-called gods do exist, either in Heaven or on earth--and in fact there are many such gods and many such lords--

6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

yet we have but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things and for whose service we exist, and but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we and all things exist.

7 Howbeit in all men there is not that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

But all believers do not recognize these facts. Some, from force of habit in relation to the idol, even now eat idol sacrifices as such, and their consciences, being but weak, are polluted.

8 But meat will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

It is true that a particular kind of food will not bring us into God's presence; we are neither inferior to others if we abstain from it, nor superior to them if we eat it.

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

But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers.

10 For if a man see thee which hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

For if any one were to see you, who know the real truth of this matter, reclining at table in an idol's temple, would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer) be emboldened to eat the food which has been sacrificed to the idol?

11 For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died!

12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.

Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat maketh my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I make not my brother to stumble. (aiōn g165)

Therefore if what I eat causes my brother to fall, never again to the end of my days will I touch any kind of animal food, for fear I should cause my brother to fall. (aiōn g165)