1 Corinthians · Chapter 8

[ edit] Forſoþe of þes þingis þat ben offrid to ydols, þat ben ſymulacris maad to mannis likneſſe, we witen, for alle we han kunnynge. Soþli ſcience, or kunnynge, inblowiþ wiþ pride; charite edifieþ. Forſoþ if ony man geſſe, or deme, him for to wyte ony þing, he haþ not ȝit knowyn how it bihoueþ hym for to kunne. Forſoþ if ony man loueþ God, þis is knowun of him. Forſoþ of metis þat ben offrid to ydols, we witen, for an ydol is no þing in þe world, and þat þer is no God but oon.

Forwhy and if þer ben þat ben ſeide goddis, eþer in heuene, eþer in erþe, forſoþ þer ben many goddis, and many lordis; neþelees to vs is oo God, þe fadir, of whom alle þingis, and we in him; and oo Lord, Jheſu Criſt, by whom alle þingis, and we by him. But not in alle men is kunnynge. Soþli ſumme wiþ conſcience of ydol til now eten as þing offrid to ydols; and her conſcience is vnclene, whanne it is ſyk. Mete comendiþ vs not to God; neiþir forſoþe we ſchulen faylen, if we ſchulen not ete, neþir if we eten, we ſchulen habounde, or haue plente. Se ȝe forſoþ, leſt perauenture þis ȝoure leue be maad hirtinge, or ſclaundre, to ſyke men, or freele.

Soþli if ony man ſchal ſe him þat haþ kunnynge, reſtinge in a place wher ydols ben worſchipid, wher his conſcience, ſiþ it is ſyk, ſchal not be edyfyed for to ete þingis offrid to ydols? And þe ſyke broþir, for whom Criſt deyede, ſchal periſche in þi kunnynge. Forſoþ þus ȝe ſynnynge in to briþeren, and ſmytinge hir ſyke conſcience, ſynnen in Criſt. Wherfor if mete ſclaundriþ my broþer, I ſchal not ete fleiſch in to wiþouten ende, leſt I ſclaundre my broþir.