But take carethat thislibertyof yoursdoes not somehowbecomea stumbling blockto the weak.
For you were calledto freedom,brethren;only[do] not [turn] your freedominto an opportunityfor the flesh,but throughloveserveone another.
[Act] as free men,and do not useyour freedomas a coveringfor evil,but [use it] as bondslavesof God.
promisingthem freedomwhile they themselvesare slavesof corruption;for by whata manis overcome,by thishe is enslaved.
Let no oneseekhis own[good], but that of his neighbor.
Giveno offenseeitherto Jewsorto Greeksorto the churchof God;
To the weakI becameweak,that I might winthe weak;I have becomeallthings to all men,sothat I may by all meanssavesome.
And so,by sinningagainstthe brethrenand woundingtheir consciencewhen it is weak,you sinagainstChrist.
For ifsomeoneseesyou, who haveknowledge,diningin an idol's temple,will not his conscience,if he is weak,be strengthenedto eatthings sacrificed to idols?
But I havea few thingsagainstyou, becauseyou havetheresome who holdthe teachingof Balaam,whokept teachingBalakto puta stumbling blockbeforethe sonsof Israel,to eatthings sacrificed to idolsand to commit [acts of] immorality.
To [my] shameI [must] saythat we have been weak[by comparison]. But in whateverrespect anyone[else] is bold--I speakin foolishness--I amjustas boldmyself.
I meannot your ownconscience,but the other[man's]; for whyis my freedomjudgedby another'sconscience?
Nowwe who are strongoughtto bearthe weaknessesof thosewithout strengthand not [just] pleaseourselves.
"Sonof man,thesemenhave setup their idolsin their heartsand have putrightbeforetheir facesthe stumblingblockof their iniquity.Should I be consultedby them at all?
And it will be said,"Buildup, buildup, preparethe way,Remove[every] obstacleout of the wayof My people."
Encouragethe exhausted,and strengthenthe feeble.
You shall not cursea deafman,norplacea stumblingblockbeforethe blind,but you shall revereyour God;I am the LORD.
"Seethat you do not despiseoneof theselittle ones,for I sayto you that their angelsin heavencontinuallyseethe faceof My Fatherwho is in heaven.
"Becausethey ministeredto them beforetheir idolsand becamea stumblingblockof iniquityto the houseof Israel,thereforeI have swornagainstthem," declaresthe LordGOD,"that they shall bear[the punishmentfor] their iniquity.
But ifanyonesaysto you, "Thisis meat sacrificed to idols,"do not eat[it], for the sakeof the onewho informed[you], and for conscience'sake;
givingnocause for offensein anything,sothat the ministrywill not be discredited,
Whois weakwithoutmy being weak?Whois led into sinwithoutmy intense concern?
Seeto it that noonetakes you captivethroughphilosophyand emptydeception,accordingto the traditionof men,accordingto the elementary principlesof the world,ratherthanaccordingto Christ.
