Romans 12:9-21

New Century Version

⁹ Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. ¹¹ Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart. ¹² Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. ¹³ Share with God’s people who need help. Bring strangers in need into your homes.

¹⁴ Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad. ¹⁶ Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are.

¹⁷ If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. ¹⁸ Do your best to live in peace with everyone. ¹⁹ My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: “I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,”^[a] says the Lord. ²⁰ But you should do this:

²¹ Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.