Romans 14

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.

Accept those who are not sure [whether God will permit them to do certain things some people think are wrong]. But [when you accept them], do not argue with them about what they think/their opinions.

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Some people believe that they may eat all [kinds of food]. Others believe [that God does not want them to eat certain things, so they] believe that they may not eat meat.

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Anyone who [thinks that it is all right to] eat [all kinds of food] must not despise those who [think it is] not [all right to] eat [all kinds of food]. Anyone who [thinks it is] not [all right to] eat [all kinds of food] must not (condemn/say that [God] will punish) those who [think that it is all right to] eat [all kinds of food], because God himself has accepted those people.

4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

[God is the master of us all, so] ([he is the one who will decide whether those people have done wrong!/who are you to decide whether they have done wrong]?) [RHQ] [Therefore], you have no right [RHQ] to condemn those who eat everything, because they are [also God’s servants! And just like] it is the servants’ own master who accepts or condemns [MTY] his servants, [it is God who accepts or condemns us]. And [believers] will be accepted [by] the Lord {[the Lord] will accept [believers]} [regardless of whether they eat meat or not], because he is able to keep them [trusting in him].

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Some people regard certain days as [holy] and think that the other [days] are not [holy]. Other people regard all days as [equally suitable for worshipping God]. Each person should be fully convinced [about such matters], thinking and deciding for himself [and not for others].

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth [it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

As for those who believe that they should worship on [a certain] day [of the week], it is to [honor] the Lord [that they worship on that day]. And as for those who [think that it is all right to] eat [all kinds of food], it is to [honor] the Lord [that they eat those foods], as is clear from their thanking God [for the food that they eat]. As for those who abstain from [eating certain kinds of] food, it is to [honor] the Lord that they do not eat [those foods], and they also thank God [for the food that they do eat. So doing either of those things is not wrong in itself].

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

None of us should live [merely] to [please] ourselves, and none of us [should choose when or how we will] die, [merely] to [please] ourselves.

8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

While we live, it is the Lord whom we belong to [and should be trying to please, and not just ourselves]. And when we die, it is the Lord whom we should [be trying to please]. So, while we live and also when we die, we should be trying to please the Lord to whom we belong, [not just ourselves],

9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

because the very purpose for which Christ died and became alive again is that he might be Lord whom all people should try to please, both of those who have already died and of those who are still living.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

(It is disgraceful that you [who practice certain religious regulations] say that God will punish your fellow believers [who do not practice those regulations]!/Why do you [who practice certain religious regulations] say God will punish your fellow believers [who do not practice such regulations]?) [RHQ] [I say this because the time will come when] all of us will stand before God in order that he will say whether or not he approves [MTY] [of what we have done]. So you [who do not practice such regulations], (should not despise your fellow believers [who practice them]!/why do you despise your fellow believers [who practice them]?) [RHQ]

11 For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

[We know this] because it is written {[a prophet/Isaiah] wrote} [what God has said]: Everyone will bow down before me! That is as [certain as the fact that] I live [IDM]! Everyone [SYN] will acknowledge [that because I am] God, I have the [right to judge and punish people.]

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

So [it is clear that] it is God who will decide [whether or not he approves of] what each of us has done.

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother’s way.

Since [it is God who will judge everyone], we must stop saying that [God should] punish some of our fellow believers! Instead, you/we should decide that you/we will not do anything that would [be an example that might cause] fellow believers to stop trusting in God [DOU].

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.

I am absolutely certain [DOU] because of [my close relationship with] (OR, [my belonging to]) the Lord Jesus that there is nothing that by itself is wrong [to eat]. But if people think it is wrong to eat something, then to them it is wrong to eat it. [So you should not encourage them to eat it].

15 But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

If you [eat] food [MET] that anyone for whom Christ died [thinks that it is wrong to eat, that person might be encouraged] {[you might be encouraging that person]} [to do something that he believes is wrong. As a result, you might cause that] fellow believer [to stop trusting in God]. In that way he would be ruined [spiritually] just because you have stopped behaving as one who loves [others should behave]!

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Similarly, do not [do something that you think is] good if, [as a result, your fellow believer would sin and then] others would speak evil [of you who say that you are Christians].

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Letting God rule our lives [MET] does not mean [that we must obey regulations about] eating or drinking [something]! Instead, [it means we must] live righteously, [act] peacefully [towards others], and be joyful by [the power of] the Holy Spirit.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Those who serve Christ [by acting] in such ways please God, and others will also respect them.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

So we should always eagerly try to [live in a way that will cause] peace [among fellow Christians], and we should try to do what will help each other to mature [spiritually].

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Do not destroy what God has done [in the life of any believer] just because of [your eating certain kinds of] food [MET] [which that person considers wrong to eat! God] permits us to eat every [kind of food]. But if, by your eating [certain kinds of food], you encourage another person to sin [by doing what he believes is wrong], you are doing wrong.

21 [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

It is good neither to eat meat nor to drink wine, nor [to do anything else at any time if it] will cause one of your fellow believers to stop trusting in God.

22 Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

Let God tell you [what things are right for you to do, but do not try to force others to accept what you believe. God is] pleased with those who do what they know is right and as a result do not feel guilty [concerning what they have done], [because they have done only] those things that they believe are right.

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

But some believers are not certain [that God will approve of their eating a certain kind of food]. So if they eat it, [they think that God will punish] them. And they [truly] will be punished {[God truly] will punish them}, because [they have done things that they] believe [are not right]. Those who do anything without being certain [that God considers it to be right] are sinning.