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A Living and Holy Sacrifice

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

For through (G)the grace given to me I say to each one among you (H)not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to (I)each a measure of faith. For (J)just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, (K)who are many, are (L)one body in Christ, and individually members one of another, but having gifts that (M)differ according to the grace given to us: whether (N)prophecy, [d]in agreement with the faith; or [e](O)service, in his serving; or he who (P)teaches, in his teaching; or he who (Q)exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with [f](R)generosity; (S)he who [g]leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with (T)cheerfulness.

Let (U)love be without hypocrisy—by (V)abhorring what is evil, clinging to what is good, 10 being (W)devoted to one another in brotherly love, [h]giving preference to one another (X)in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, being (Y)fervent in spirit, (Z)serving the Lord, 12 (AA)rejoicing in hope, (AB)persevering in affliction, being (AC)devoted to prayer, 13 (AD)contributing to the needs of the [i]saints, (AE)pursuing hospitality.

14 (AF)Bless those who persecute [j]you; bless, and do not curse. 15 (AG)Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep, 16 by (AH)being of the same mind toward one another, (AI)not being haughty in mind, but [k]associating with the humble. (AJ)Do not be wise in your own mind. 17 (AK)Never paying back evil for evil to anyone, [l](AL)respecting what is good in the sight of all men, 18 if possible, (AM)so far as it depends on you, (AN)being at peace with all men, 19 (AO)never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead [m]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, and 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.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 Or rational
  2. Romans 12:2 Or age
  3. Romans 12:2 Or complete
  4. Romans 12:6 Or according to the proportion of his faith
  5. Romans 12:7 Or office of service
  6. Romans 12:8 Or simplicity; without false motives
  7. Romans 12:8 Or gives aid
  8. Romans 12:10 Or outdo one another in showing honor
  9. Romans 12:13 Or holy ones
  10. Romans 12:14 Two early mss omit you
  11. Romans 12:16 Or accommodate yourself to lowly things
  12. Romans 12:17 Lit take thought for
  13. Romans 12:19 Lit give a place

Offer Your Bodies to God as Living Sacrifices

12 Therefore I urge you, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—which is your appropriate worship. Also, do not continue to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you test and approve what is the will of God—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Humbly Use the Gifts God Gave You

So by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think in a way that results in sound judgment, as God distributed a measure of faith to each of you. For we have many members in one body, and not all the members have the same function. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us. If the gift is prophecy, do it in complete agreement with the faith.[b] If it is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. If it is encouraging, then encourage. If it is contributing, be generous. If it is leadership, be diligent. If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.

Guidelines for Christian Living

Do not just pretend to love others. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love. Think of others as deserving more honor than yourselves. 11 Do not be lagging behind in zeal, but be fervent in spirit, as you continue to serve the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope. Endure trials patiently. Persist in prayer. 13 Share with the saints who are in need. Be quick to welcome strangers as guests.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing; weep with those who are weeping. 16 Have the same respect for one another. Do not be arrogant, but associate with the humble. Do not think too highly of yourselves.

17 Do not pay anyone back evil for evil. Focus on those things that everyone considers noble. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, maintain peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,”[c] says the Lord. 20 But:

If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him a drink.
For by doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.[d]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 When context indicates it, the Greek word for brothers may refer to all fellow believers, male and female.
  2. Romans 12:6 Or in proportion to your faith
  3. Romans 12:19 Deuteronomy 32:35
  4. Romans 12:20 Proverbs 25:21,22

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

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

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

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

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 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 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Living Sacrifices to God

12 I (A)beseech[a] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies (B)a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your [b]reasonable service. And (C)do not be conformed to this world, but (D)be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may (E)prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Serve God with Spiritual Gifts

For I say, (F)through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, (G)not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt (H)to each one a measure of faith. For (I)as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so (J)we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is (K)given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us (L)prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; (M)he who teaches, in teaching; (N)he who exhorts, in exhortation; (O)he who gives, with liberality; (P)he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, (Q)with cheerfulness.

Behave Like a Christian

(R)Let love be without hypocrisy. (S)Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 (T)Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, (U)in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 (V)rejoicing in hope, (W)patient[c] in tribulation, (X)continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 (Y)distributing to the needs of the saints, (Z)given[d] to hospitality.

14 (AA)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 (AB)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 (AC)Be of the same mind toward one another. (AD)Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 (AE)Repay no one evil for evil. (AF)Have[e] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, (AG)live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, (AH)do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, (AI)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

(AJ)“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but (AK)overcome evil with good.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:1 urge
  2. Romans 12:1 rational
  3. Romans 12:12 persevering
  4. Romans 12:13 Lit. pursuing
  5. Romans 12:17 Or Provide good