1 Bakolinto 8
1 Mpo na oyo etali misuni ya banyama oyo ebonzami lokola mbeka epai ya banzambe mosusu, toyebi malamu ete biso nyonso tozali na boyebi. Boyebi epesaka lolendo, kasi bolingo elendisaka.
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 Moto oyo akanisaka ete azali na boyebi ya makambo ayebi nanu eloko te na ndenge esengeli.
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 Kasi moto oyo alingaka Nzambe, Nzambe ayebi ye.
but if any one loves God, that man is known by God.
4 Boye, na tina na likambo ya kolia misuni ya banyama oyo ebonzami lokola mbeka epai ya banzambe mosusu, toyebi malamu ete nzambe ya ekeko ezali eloko pamba kati na mokili, mpe ete Nzambe azali kaka se moko.
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 Solo, ezali na bikelamu ebele oyo ebengami banzambe, ezala na likolo to na mabele; yango nde esalaka ete banzambe mpe bankolo bazala ebele.
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 Kasi mpo na biso, Nzambe azali kaka se moko, Ye nde azali Tata mpe Mokeli na nyonso, mpe biso tozali na bomoi mpo na Ye. Mpe Nkolo azali kaka se moko, Ye nde Yesu-Klisto. Nyonso esalema na nzela na Ye, mpe biso tozali na bomoi mpo na Ye.
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 Nzokande, bato nyonso bazali na boyebi oyo te; bato mosusu bazali nanu na momesano ya kosambela banzambe ya bikeko kino sik’oyo. Boye wana baliaka misuni ya banyama oyo ebonzami lokola mbeka epai ya banzambe mosusu, bakanisaka ete ezali penza mbeka oyo babonzeli banzambe wana; mpe mitema na bango, oyo elenda te ekomaka mbindo.
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 Nzokande, ezali bilei te nde ememaka biso pene ya Nzambe; soki tolie yango te, tokobungisa eloko moko te; soki mpe tolie yango, tokozwa eloko moko te.
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 Kasi bosala keba ete bonsomi na bino ekoma libaku te mpo na bato oyo balenda te kati na kondima.
But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers.
10 Pamba te soki moko kati na bato oyo balenda te kati na kondima amoni yo, yo oyo ozali na boyebi, ozali kolia kati na tempelo ya banzambe ya bikeko, boni, motema na ye ekozanga solo kotindika ye mpe na kolia misuni ya banyama oyo ebonzami lokola mbeka epai ya banzambe mosusu?
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 Boye, ndeko oyo alenda te kati na kondima, ye oyo Klisto akufelaki, akopengwa likolo ya boyebi na yo.
Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died!
12 Tango bozali kobetisa bandeko na bino mabaku na ndenge wana, mpe bozali kozokisa mitema na bango, oyo elenda te, bozali kosala masumu liboso ya Klisto.
Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ.
13 Yango wana, soki mpo na bilei na ngai, ndeko na ngai azali kokweya na masumu, nakotikala kolia lisusu misuni te mpo ete nazala libaku te, oyo ekokweyisa ye na masumu. (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)
