Romans 12

1 I entreat you, then, friends, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, for this is your rational worship.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and well-pleasing to God, as your rational service.

2 Do not conform to the fashion of this world; but be transformed by the complete change that has come over your minds, so that you may discern what God’s will is – all that is good, acceptable, and perfect. (aiōn g165)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may experience what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. (aiōn g165)

3 In fulfilment of the charge with which I have been entrusted, I tell every one of you not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think, but to think until they learn to think soberly – in accordance with the measure of faith that God has allotted to each.

For by the grace conferred on me I charge every one among you, not to think of himself above what he ought to think: but to think with sobriety, according as God hath divided to every man the measure of faith.

4 For, just as in the human body there is a union of many parts, and each part has its own function,

For as in one body we have many members, and all the members have not the same office:

5 so we, by our union in Christ, many though we are, form but one body, and individually we are related one to another as its parts.

so we who are many, are one body in Christ, and every one members of each other.

6 Since our gifts differ in accordance with the particular charge entrusted to us, if our gift is to preach, let our preaching correspond to our faith;

But having different gifts, according to the grace conferred upon us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith:

7 if it is to minister to others, let us devote ourselves to our ministry; the teacher to their teaching,

or ministry, let us attend to the ministry: or he that teacheth, on teaching: or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:

8 the counselor to their counsel. Let the person who gives in charity do so with a generous heart; let the person who is in authority exercise due diligence; let the person who shows kindness do so in a cheerful spirit.

he that distributeth, let him do it with integrity: he that presideth, with diligence: he that sheweth mercy, with chearfulness.

9 Let your love be sincere. Hate the wrong; cling to the right.

Let love be unfeigned. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good;

10 In the love of the community of the Lord’s followers, be affectionate to one another; in showing respect, set an example of deference to one another;

be tenderly affected with brotherly love to each other, in honor preferring one another:

11 never flagging in zeal; fervent in spirit; serving the Master;

not slothful in business: fervent in spirit: serving the Lord.

12 rejoicing in your hope; steadfast under persecution; persevering in prayer;

Rejoicing in hope, patient under affliction, persevering in prayer,

13 relieving the wants of Christ’s people; devoted to hospitality.

communicating to the necessities of the saints, given to hospitality.

14 Bless your persecutors – bless and never curse.

Bless them that persecute you: bless them, I say, and do not curse them.

15 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and weep with those who are weeping.

Rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those that weep.

16 Let the same spirit of sympathy animate you all, not a spirit of pride; enjoy the company of ordinary people. Do not think too highly of yourselves.

Be alike affected to each other: not aiming at high things, but accommodating yourselves to persons of low rank. Be not wise in your own conceit.

17 Never return injury for injury. Aim at doing what everyone will recognise as honourable.

Render to no one evil for evil: behaving honorably in the sight of all men.

18 If it is possible, as far as rests with you, live peaceably with everyone.

If it be possible, as much as ye can, live peaceably with all men.

19 Never avenge yourselves, dear friends, but make way for the wrath of God; for scripture declares – “‘It is for me to avenge, I will requite,’ says the Lord.”

Avenge not yourselves, my beloved; but rather give place to the wrath of others: for it is written, "Vengeance belongeth to me, I will recompence, saith the Lord."

20 Rather – “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him to drink. By doing this you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Never be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.