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v1
Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.
v2
And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may approve what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.
v3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone who is among you not to think more highly of yourself than what one ought to think, but to think sensibly ^[Literally “so as to be sensible”], as God has apportioned a measure of faith to each one.
v4
For just as in one body we have many members, but all the members do not have the same function,
v5
in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually ^[Literally “with respect to one”] members of one another,
v6
but having different gifts according to the grace given to us: if it is prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
v7
if it is service, by service; if it is one who teaches, by teaching;
v8
if it is one who exhorts, by exhortation; one who gives, with sincerity; one who leads, with diligence; one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
v9
Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; be attached to what is good,
v10
being devoted to one another in brotherly love, esteeming one another more highly in honor,
v11
not lagging in diligence, being enthusiastic in spirit, serving the Lord,
v12
rejoicing in hope, enduring in affliction, being devoted to prayer,
v13
contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.
v14
Bless those who persecute, ^[Some manuscripts have “who persecute you”] bless and do not curse them.
v15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
v16
Think the same thing toward one another; do not think arrogantly ^[Literally “think not the arrogant”], but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own sight ^[Literally “in the sight of yourselves”].
v17
Pay back no one evil for evil. Take thought for what is good in the sight of all people.
v18
If it is possible on your part, be at peace with all people.
v19
Do not take revenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” ^[A quotation from Deut 32:35] says the Lord.
v20
But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by ^[Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“doing”) which is understood as means] doing this, you will heap up coals of fire upon his head.” ^[A quotation from Prov 25:21–22]
v21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.