Dedicated Service

12 Therefore (A)I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to (B)present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, [a]acceptable to God, which is your [b]spiritual service of worship. And do not (C)be conformed to (D)this [c]world, but be transformed by the (E)renewing of your mind, so that you may [d](F)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect.

For through (G)the grace given to me I say to everyone among you (H)not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to (I)each a measure of faith. For (J)just as we have many parts in one body and all [f]the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, (K)who are many, are (L)one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that (M)differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if (N)prophecy, [g]in proportion to one’s faith; if [h](O)service, in the act of serving; or the one who (P)teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who [i](Q)exhorts, in the work of [j]exhortation; the one who gives, with [k](R)generosity; (S)the one who [l]is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with (T)cheerfulness.

[m](U)Love must be free of hypocrisy. (V)Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be (W)devoted to one another in brotherly love; [n]give preference to one another (X)in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, (Y)fervent in spirit, (Z)serving the Lord; 12 (AA)rejoicing in hope, (AB)persevering in tribulation, (AC)devoted to prayer, 13 (AD)contributing to the needs of the [o]saints, [p](AE)practicing hospitality.

14 (AF)Bless those who persecute [q]you; bless and do not curse. 15 (AG)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 (AH)Be of the same mind toward one another; (AI)do not be [r]haughty in mind, but [s]associate with the lowly. (AJ)Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 (AK)Never repay evil for evil to anyone. [t](AL)Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, (AM)so far as it depends on you, (AN)be at peace with all people. 19 (AO)Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [u]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “(AP)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 (AQ)But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Be Subject to Government

13 Every [v](AR)person is to be (AS)subject to the governing authorities. For (AT)there is no authority except [w]from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore [x]whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For (AU)rulers are not a cause of fear for [y]good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an (AV)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also (AW)for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. (AX)Pay to all what is due them: (AY)tax to whom tax is due; (AZ)custom to whom custom; [z]respect to whom [aa]respect; honor to whom honor.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for (BA)the one who loves [ab]his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For this, “(BB)You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “(BC)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love [ac]does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore (BD)love is the fulfillment of the Law.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is (BE)already the hour for you to (BF)awaken from sleep; for now [ad]salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. 12 (BG)The night is almost gone, and (BH)the day is near. Therefore let’s rid ourselves of (BI)the deeds of darkness and put on (BJ)the armor of light. 13 Let’s [ae](BK)behave properly as in the day, (BL)not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But (BM)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh (BN)in regard to its lusts.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 Or pleasing
  2. Romans 12:1 I.e., in contrast to offering a literal sacrifice
  3. Romans 12:2 Or age
  4. Romans 12:2 Or discover
  5. Romans 12:2 Or pleasing
  6. Romans 12:4 Lit the parts
  7. Romans 12:6 Or in agreement with the faith
  8. Romans 12:7 Or office of service
  9. Romans 12:8 Or encourages
  10. Romans 12:8 Or encouragement
  11. Romans 12:8 Or sincere concern
  12. Romans 12:8 Or provides care
  13. Romans 12:9 Or Love has no
  14. Romans 12:10 Or outdo one another in showing honor
  15. Romans 12:13 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  16. Romans 12:13 Lit pursuing
  17. Romans 12:14 Two early mss do not contain you
  18. Romans 12:16 Or arrogant
  19. Romans 12:16 Or accommodate yourself to lowly things
  20. Romans 12:17 Lit Take thought for
  21. Romans 12:19 Lit give a place
  22. Romans 13:1 Or soul
  23. Romans 13:1 Lit by
  24. Romans 13:2 Lit the one who
  25. Romans 13:3 Lit good work
  26. Romans 13:7 I.e., for authority; lit fear
  27. Romans 13:7 I.e., for authority; lit fear
  28. Romans 13:8 Lit the other
  29. Romans 13:10 Lit works no evil
  30. Romans 13:11 Or our salvation is nearer than when
  31. Romans 13:13 Lit walk

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