Romans 14:16

Amplified Bible

Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you [because of your freedom to choose] be spoken of as evil [by someone else];

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Don't allow what is good for you to become something they say is evil.

Revised Standard Version
So do not let your good be spoken of as evil.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Cause not youre treasure to be evyll spoken of.

Hebrew Names Version
Then don't let your good be slandered,

International Standard Version
Do not allow your good to be spoken of as evil.Romans 12:17;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;

New Century Version
Do not allow what you think is good to become what others say is evil.

Update Bible Version
Don't let then your good be evil spoken of:

Webster's Bible Translation
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

English Standard Version
So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.

World English Bible
Then don't let your good be slandered,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore let not your good be evil spoken of.

Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore do not let the boon which is yours in common be exposed to reproach.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor be not oure good thing blasfemed.

English Revised Version
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Berean Standard Bible
Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.

Contemporary English Version
Don't let your right to eat bring shame to Christ.

American Standard Version
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Bible in Basic English
Let it not be possible for men to say evil about your good:

Complete Jewish Bible
Do not let what you know to be good, be spoken of as bad;

Darby Translation
Let not then your good be evil spoken of;

Etheridge Translation
Let not our good [fn] (things) be blasphemed.

Murdock Translation
And let not our good thing be matter of reproach.

King James Version (1611)
Let not then your good be euill spoken of.

New Living Translation
Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.

New Life Bible
Do not let what is good for you be talked about as bad.

New Revised Standard
So do not let your good be spoken of as evil.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Cause not your commoditie to be euill spoken of.

George Lamsa Translation
Let not our blessings be a reproach to any one:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore, suffer not to be defamed, your own good thing;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let not then our good be evil spoken of.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Let not your good be euyll spoken of.

Good News Translation
Do not let what you regard as good get a bad name.

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,

King James Version
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Lexham English Bible
Therefore do not let your good be slandered.

Literal Translation
Then do not let your good be spoken evil of.

Young's Literal Translation
Let not, then, your good be evil spoken of,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Se therfore that youre treasure be not euell spoke of.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Don't let our religion then be expos'd to reproach.

New English Translation
Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil.

New King James Version
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

Simplified Cowboy Version
You'll be blameless if you act this way.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be slandered;

Contextual Overview

¹As for the one whose faith is weak, accept him [into your fellowship], but not for [the purpose of] quarreling over his opinions. ²One man's faith permits him to eat everything, while the weak believer eats only vegetables [to avoid eating ritually unclean meat or something previously considered unclean]. ³The one who eats [everything] is not to look down on the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not criticize or pass judgment on the one who eats [everything], for God has accepted him. ⁴Who are you to judge the servant of another? Before his own master he stands [approved] or falls [out of favor]. And he [who serves the Master—the Lord] will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. ⁵One person regards one day as better [or more important] than another, while another regards every day [the same as any other]. Let everyone be fully convinced (assured, satisfied) in his own mind. ⁶He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord. He who eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷None of us lives for himself [for his own benefit, but for the Lord], and none of us dies for himself [but for the Lord]. ⁸If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. ⁹For Christ died and lived again for this reason, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your [believing] brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God [who alone is judge].

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Romans 12:17, 1 Corinthians 10:29, 1 Corinthians 10:30, 2 Corinthians 8:20, 2 Corinthians 8:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Reciprocal: Ruth 3:14 - Let it not Ephesians 5:2 - walk

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others];

Genesis 14:11
Then the victors took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply and provisions and left.

Genesis 14:12
And they also took [captive] Lot, Abram's nephew, and his possessions and left, for he was living in Sodom.

Genesis 14:18
Melchizedek king of Salem (ancient Jerusalem) brought out bread and wine [for them]; he was the priest of God Most High.

Genesis 14:19
And Melchizedek blessed Abram and said, "Blessed (joyful, favored) be Abram by God Most High, Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth;

1 Samuel 30:8
David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this band [of raiders]? Will I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them, and you will certainly rescue [the captives]."

Isaiah 41:2
"Who has stirred up and put into action one from the east [the king of Persia, Cyrus the Great] Whom He calls in righteousness to His service and whom victory meets at every step? The LORD turns nations over to him And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, Like wind-driven chaff with his bow.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let not then your good be evil spoken of. The Vulgate Latin reads it, "our good", and so the Syriac version; the sense is the same, and to be understood either of the Gospel in general, which is good in its author, matter, effects, and consequences; is good tidings of good things, and which might be blasphemed by the men of the world, on account of the divisions and contentions among the professors of it, about such little trivial things, as eating this or the other sort of food; and therefore care should be taken, that it be not evil spoken of through such conduct: or else the doctrine of Christian liberty in particular, which is a good thing; Christ has procured it, and bestows it upon his people; it is a valuable blessing in itself, and is attended and followed with many considerable privileges and immunities; but may be evil spoken of by those, who do not so well understand it, through an imprudent use of it by those who do; and who therefore should guard against any reproach that may be cast upon it; and rather than this should be the case, forego the use of it, in things of an indifferent nature; see 1 Corinthians 10:30; so that this is another of the apostle's reasons, why though nothing is of itself unclean, yet it should be abstained from on account of others.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let not then your good ... - That which you esteem to be right, and which may be right in itself. You are not bound by the ceremonial law. You are free from the yoke of bondage This freedom you esteem to be a good - a favor - a high privilege. And so it is; but you should not make such a use of it as to do injury to others.

Be evil spoken of - Greek, Be blasphemed. Do not so use your Christian liberty as to give occasion for railing and unkind remarks from your brethren, so as to produce contention and strife, and thus to give rise to evil reports among the wicked about the tendency of the Christian religion, as if it were adapted only to promote controversy. How much strife would have been avoided if all Christians had regarded this plain rule. In relation to dress, and rites, and ceremonies in the church, we may be conscious that we are right; but an obstinate adherence to them may only give rise to contention and angry discussions, and to evil reports among men, of the tendency of religion. In such a case we should yield our private, unimportant personal indulgence to the good of the cause of religion and of peace.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 14:16. Let not then your good be evil spoken of — Do not make such a use of your Christian liberty as to subject the Gospel itself to reproach. Whatsoever you do, do it in such a manner, spirit, and time, as to make it productive of the greatest possible good. There are many who have such an unhappy method of doing their good acts, as not only to do little or no good by them, but a great deal of evil. It requires much prudence and watchfulness to find out the proper time of performing even a good action.