1 Corinthians 8

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

1Now about food offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. But knowledge makes people proud, while love builds others up.

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

2If anyone thinks they know something, they don’t yet know it as they really should.

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

3But whoever loves God is known by God.

4Concerning 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.

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

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

5Even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many 'gods' and many 'lords'—

6yet 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.

6for us there is only one God, the Father. All things come from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things were made through him, and we live through him.

7Howbeit there is not in all men 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.

7However, not everyone knows this. Some people are still so used to idols that when they eat such food, they think of it as having been sacrificed to a real god. Because their conscience is weak, they feel guilty and defiled.

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

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

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

9But be careful that your freedom to eat does not somehow become a stumbling block to those who are weak in faith.

10For if a man see thee who 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?

10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, who have this knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, won't they be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols even though they think it is wrong?

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

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

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

12When you sin against your brothers and sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ.

13Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

13Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to stumble.