1 Corinthians 10:23 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

All things are legitimate [permissible–and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

All things are lawful, but all are not profitable; all things are lawful, but all do not edify.

English EASY 2024

Some of you might say, ‘We are free to do anything that we want to do!’ But I tell you that not everything is good for you to do. You might say, ‘We are free to do anything!’ But not everything helps us to be strong as believers.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

"All things are allowed," you say. But not all things are good. "All things are allowed." But some things don't help anyone.

"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

“We are allowed to do anything,” so they say. That is true, but not everything is good. “We are allowed to do anything”—but not everything is helpful.

English God's Word - GW 1995

Someone may say, "I'm allowed to do anything," but not everything is helpful. I'm allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

"Everything is permissible," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible," but not everything builds up.

English KJV 1611

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

English LSB

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things edify.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

"Everything is lawful," but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds up.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

“Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

You say, "Everything is permitted." But not everything is good for us. Again you say, "Everything is permitted." But not everything builds us up.

English NIV

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

English NKJ 1982

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

English NLT

You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is helpful. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is beneficial.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

"All things are lawful," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

You say, “ Under grace there are no rules and we’re free to do anything we please.” Not exactly. Because not everything promotes growth in others. Your slogan, “We’re allowed to do anything we choose,” may be true—but not everything causes the spiritual advancement of others.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

You are certainly free to eat food offered to idols if you want to; it's not against God's laws to eat such meat, but that doesn't mean that you should go ahead and do it. It may be perfectly legal, but it may not be best and helpful.

English Tyndale 1537

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient.(I may do all things, but all things are not profitable) All things are lawful, (to me) but all things edify not.