< 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 plead with you therefore, brethren, by the compassionsof God, to present all your faculties to Him as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to Him. This with you will be an act of reasonable worship.
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 )
And do not follow the customs of the present age, but be transformed by the entire renewal of your minds, so that you may learn by experience what God's will is--that will which is good and beautiful and perfect. (aiōn )
3 In fulfillment 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 through the authority graciously given to me I warn every individual among you not to value himself unduly, but to cultivate sobriety of judgement in accordance with the amount of faith which God has allotted to each one.
4 For, just as in the human body there is a union of many parts, and each part has its own function,
For just as there are in the one human body many parts, and these parts have not all the same function;
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 collectively we form one body in Christ, while individually we are linked to one another as its members.
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 since we have special gifts which differ in accordance with the diversified work graciously entrusted to us, if it is prophecy, let the prophet speak in exact proportion to his faith;
7 if it is to minister to others, let us devote ourselves to our ministry; the teacher to their teaching,
if it is the gift of administration, let the administrator exercise a sound judgement in his duties.
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.
The teacher must do the same in his teaching; and he who exhorts others, in his exhortation. He who gives should be liberal; he who is in authority should be energetic and alert; and he who succours the afflicted should do it cheerfully.
9 Let your love be sincere. Hate the wrong; cling to the right.
Let your love be perfectly sincere. Regard with horror what is evil; cling to what is right.
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;
As for brotherly love, be affectionate to one another; in matters of worldly honour, yield to one another.
11 never flagging in zeal; fervent in spirit; serving the Master;
Do not be indolent when zeal is required. Be thoroughly warm-hearted, the Lord's own servants,
12 rejoicing in your hope; steadfast under persecution; persevering in prayer;
full of joyful hope, patient under persecution, earnest and persistent in prayer.
13 relieving the wants of Christ’s people; devoted to hospitality.
Relieve the necessities of God's people; always practise hospitality.
14 Bless your persecutors – bless and never curse.
Invoke blessings on your persecutors--blessings, not curses.
15 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and weep with those who are weeping.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who 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.
Have full sympathy with one another. Do not give your mind to high things, but let humble ways content you. Do not be wise in your own conceits.
17 Never return injury for injury. Aim at doing what everyone will recognize as honorable.
Pay back to no man evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and seemly in every one's esteem.
18 If it is possible, as far as rests with you, live peaceably with everyone.
If you can, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all the world.
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.’
Do not be revengeful, my dear friends, but give way before anger; for it is written, "'Revenge belongs to Me: I will pay back,' says 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.’
On the contrary, therefore, if your enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, quench his thirst. For by doing this you will be heaping burning coals upon his head.
21 Never be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome the evil with goodness.