Add parallel Print Page Options

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

12 I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice -- living, sanctified, acceptable to God -- your intelligent service;

and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God -- the good, and acceptable, and perfect.

For I say, through the grace that was given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think above what it behoveth to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God did deal a measure of faith,

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

so we, the many, one body are in Christ, and members each one of one another.

And having gifts, different according to the grace that was given to us; whether prophecy -- `According to the proportion of faith!'

or ministration -- `In the ministration!' or he who is teaching -- `In the teaching!'

or he who is exhorting -- `In the exhortation!' he who is sharing -- `In simplicity!' he who is leading -- `In diligence?' he who is doing kindness -- `In cheerfulness.'

The love unfeigned: abhorring the evil; cleaving to the good;

10 in the love of brethren, to one another kindly affectioned: in the honour going before one another;

11 in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;

12 in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;

13 to the necessities of the saints communicating; the hospitality pursuing.

14 Bless those persecuting you; bless, and curse not;

15 to rejoice with the rejoicing, and to weep with the weeping,

16 of the same mind one toward another, not minding the high things, but with the lowly going along; become not wise in your own conceit;

17 giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men.

18 If possible -- so far as in you -- with all men being in peace;

19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance [is] Mine,

20 I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;

21 Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.