But take carethat thislibertyof yoursdoes not somehowbecomea stumbling blockto the weak.
Encouragethe exhausted,and strengthenthe feeble.
And it will be said,"Buildup, buildup, preparethe way,Remove[every] obstacleout of the wayof My people."
"Sonof man,thesemenhave setup their idolsin their heartsand have putrightbeforetheir facesthe stumblingblockof their iniquity.Should I be consultedby them at all?
"Becausethey ministeredto them beforetheir idolsand becamea stumblingblockof iniquityto the houseof Israel,thereforeI have swornagainstthem," declaresthe LordGOD,"that they shall bear[the punishmentfor] their iniquity.
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.
Nowwe who are strongoughtto bearthe weaknessesof thosewithout strengthand not [just] pleaseourselves.
Let no oneseekhis own[good], but that of his neighbor.
But ifanyonesaysto you, "Thisis meat sacrificed to idols,"do not eat[it], for the sakeof the onewho informed[you], and for conscience'sake;
I meannot your ownconscience,but the other[man's]; for whyis my freedomjudgedby another'sconscience?
Giveno offenseeitherto Jewsorto Greeksorto the churchof God;
For ifsomeoneseesyou, who haveknowledge,diningin an idol's temple,will not his conscience,if he is weak,be strengthenedto eatthings sacrificed to idols?
And so,by sinningagainstthe brethrenand woundingtheir consciencewhen it is weak,you sinagainstChrist.
To the weakI becameweak,that I might winthe weak;I have becomeallthings to all men,sothat I may by all meanssavesome.
To [my] shameI [must] saythat we have been weak[by comparison]. But in whateverrespect anyone[else] is bold--I speakin foolishness--I amjustas boldmyself.
Whois weakwithoutmy being weak?Whois led into sinwithoutmy intense concern?
givingnocause for offensein anything,sothat the ministrywill not be discredited,
For you were calledto freedom,brethren;only[do] not [turn] your freedominto an opportunityfor the flesh,but throughloveserveone another.
Seeto it that noonetakes you captivethroughphilosophyand emptydeception,accordingto the traditionof men,accordingto the elementary principlesof the world,ratherthanaccordingto Christ.
[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.
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.
