Romans 12
Wycliffe Bible
12 Therefore, brethren, I beseech you by the mercy of God, that ye give your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, and your service reasonable.
2 And do not ye be conformed to this world, but be ye reformed in newness of your wit, that ye prove which is the will of God, good, and well pleasing, and perfect.
3 For I say, by the grace that is given to me, to all that be among you, that ye understand not more than it behooveth to understand, but for to understand to soberness [to not savour, or know, more than it behooveth to know, but to know to soberness]; and to each man, as God hath parted the measure of faith.
4 For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same deed [soothly all the members have not the same act, or deed];
5 so we many be one body in Christ [so we be many, one body in Christ], and each be members one of another.
6 Therefore we that have gifts diversing [Therefore having gifts diversing], after the grace that is given to us, either prophecy, after the reason of faith;
7 either service, in ministering; either he that teacheth, in teaching; [either ministry, or service, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in teaching;]
8 he that stirreth softly, in admonishing [he that stirreth softly, in exhortation, or admonishing]; he that giveth, in simpleness; he that is sovereign[a], in busyness; he that hath mercy, in gladness.
9 Love without feigning, hating evil, drawing to good [cleaving, or fast drawing, to good thing];
10 loving together the charity of brotherhood. Each come before to worship (the) other [Coming before together in honour];
11 not slow in busyness, fervent in spirit, serving to the Lord,
12 joying in hope, patient in tribulation, busy in prayer,
13 giving good to the needs of saints, keeping hospitality.
14 Bless ye men that pursue you; bless ye, and do not ye curse;
15 for to joy with men that joy, for to weep with men that weep.
16 Feel ye the same thing together; not understanding high things, but consenting to meek things[b]. Do not ye be prudent with yourselves;
17 to no man yielding evil for evil, but purvey ye good things, not only before God, but also before all men.
18 If it may be done, that that is of you, have ye peace with all men.
19 Ye most dear brethren, not defending yourselves, but give ye place to wrath [Ye most dear-worthy brethren, not defending, or venging, yourselves, but give ye place to ire, or wrath]; for it is written, The Lord saith, To me vengeance, and I shall yield [again].
20 But if thine enemy hungereth, feed thou him; if he thirsteth, give thou drink to him; for thou doing this thing shalt gather together coals on his head. [But if thine enemy shall hunger, feed him; if he thirsteth, give drink to him; forsooth doing these things thou shalt gather together coals on his head.]
21 Do not thou be overcome of evil, but overcome thou evil by good.
Footnotes
- Romans 12:8 he that is prelate, or sovereign/he that is before
- Romans 12:16 Feeling the same thing together; not savouring, or knowing, high things, but consenting to meek things, following meek fathers
Romans 12
New Matthew Bible
The sweet living, love, and works of the people who believe in Christ.
12 I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercifulness of God, to make your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable serving of God. 2 Do not fashion yourselves to this world, but be changed in your nature by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is that good, that favourable, and perfect will of God.
3 For I say by the grace that is given to me, to everyone among you, that no one should think of himself more than it behoves him to think, but should soberly judge of himself, as God has given to each the measure of faith. 4 Just as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same service, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone among us one another’s members. 6 Seeing that we have different gifts, according to the grace that is given to us, if one has the gift of prophecy, let him have it agreeing to the faith. 7 Let him who has an office attend to his duty. Let him who teaches take heed to his doctrine. 8 Let him who exhorts give heed to his exhortation. If anyone gives, let him do it with sincerity. Let him who governs do it with diligence. If anyone shows mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissembling. Hate that which is evil, and cleave unto that which is good. 10 Be kind to one another, with brotherly love. Honour others before yourselves. 11 Let not the work that you have in hand be tedious to you. Be fervent in the Spirit. Apply yourselves to the time. 12 Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Continue in prayer. 13 Give to meet the needs of the saints, and be ready to take people in.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, but curse not. 15 Be merry with those who are merry. Weep with those who weep. 16 Be of equal affection one towards another. Be not high-minded, but make yourselves equal to the lowly. Do not be wise in your own opinions. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Provide beforehand for things that are honourable in the sight of all people. 18 If it is possible, as for your part, have peace with all people.
19 Dearly beloveds, do not avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written: Vengeance is mine, and I will reward, says the Lord. 20 Therefore: If your enemy hungers, feed him, and if he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with goodness.
Romans 12
1599 Geneva Bible
12 1 He exhorteth 2 to that worship which is acceptable to God, 9 to love unfained, 14, 20 even towards our enemies.
1 I Beseech [a]you therefore brethren, [b]by the mercies of God, that ye [c]give up your [d]bodies a [e]living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your [f]reasonable serving of God.
2 [g]And fashion not yourselves like unto this world, but be ye changed by the renewing of your [h]mind, that ye may (A)prove what that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God is.
3 [i]For I [j]say through the grace that is given unto me, to everyone that is among you, that no man [k]presume to understand above that which is meet to understand, but that he understand according to [l]sobriety, as God hath dealt to every man the (B)measure of [m]faith.
4 [n]For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not one office,
5 So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one, one anothers members.
6 (C)[o]Seeing then that we have gifts that are divers, according to the grace that is given unto us, whether we have prophecy, let us prophesy according to the [p]portion of faith.
7 Or an office, let us wait on the office: or he that [q]teacheth, on teaching:
8 Or he that [r]exhorteth, on exhortation: he that [s]distributeth, let him do it (D)with simplicity: he that [t]ruleth, with diligence: he that [u]showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 [v]Let love be without dissimulation. (E)Abhor that which is evil, and cleave unto that which is good.
10 (F)Be affectioned to love one another with brotherly love. In giving honor, go one before another.
11 Not slothful to do service, fervent in spirit [w]serving the Lord,
12 [x]Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, (G)continuing in prayer.
13 (H)[y]Distributing unto the [z]necessities of the Saints: (I)giving yourselves to hospitality.
14 (J)Bless them which persecute you: bless, I say, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be like affectioned one towards another: (K)be not high-minded: but make yourselves equal to them of the [aa]lower sort: be not [ab]wise in yourselves.
17 (L)Recompense to no man evil for evil: procure things honest in the sight of all men.
18 (M)If it be possible, as much as in you is, have peace with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, (N)avenge not yourselves, but give place unto wrath: for it is written, (O)Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 (P)Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap [ac]coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with goodness.
Footnotes
- Romans 12:1 The fourth part of this Epistle, which after the finishing of the chief points of Christian doctrine, consisteth in declaring of precepts of Christian life. And first of all he giveth general precepts and grounds: the chiefest whereof is this that every man consecrate himself wholly to the spiritual service of God, and do as it were sacrifice himself, trusting to the grace of God.
- Romans 12:1 By this preface he showeth that God’s glory is the utmost end of all our doings.
- Romans 12:1 In times past the sacrifices were presented before the altar, but now the altar is everywhere.
- Romans 12:1 Yourselves: in times past, other bodies than our own, now our own must be offered.
- Romans 12:1 In times past, dead sacrifices were offered, but now we must offer such as have the spirit of life in them.
- Romans 12:1 Spiritual.
- Romans 12:2 The second precept is this, That we take not other men’s opinions or manners for a rule of life, but that we wholly renouncing this world, set before us as our mark, the will of God, as it is manifested and opened unto us in his word.
- Romans 12:2 Why then there is no place left for reason, which the heathen Philosophers place as a Queen in a Castle, nor for man’s free will, which the Popish Schoolmen dream on, if the mind must be renewed. See Eph. 1:18 and 2:5 and 4:17 and Col. 1:21.
- Romans 12:3 Thirdly he admonisheth us very earnestly, that every man keep himself within the bounds of his vocation, and that every man be wise according to the measure of grace that God hath given him.
- Romans 12:3 I charge.
- Romans 12:3 That he please not himself too much, as they do, which persuade themselves they know more than indeed they do.
- Romans 12:3 We will be sober if we take not that upon us, which we have not, and if we brag not of that we have.
- Romans 12:3 By faith he meaneth the knowledge of God in Christ, and the gifts which the holy Ghost poureth upon the faithful.
- Romans 12:4 There is a double reason of the precept going afore: the one is because God hath not committed everything to be done of every man: and therefore, he doeth backwardly, and not only unprofitably, but also to the great disprofit of others, wearieth himself and others, which passeth the bounds of his vocation: the other is, for that this diversity and inequality of vocations and gifts, redoundeth to our commodity seeing that the same is therefore instituted and appointed, that we should be bound one to another. Whereupon it followeth that no man ought to be grieved thereat, seeing that the use of every private gift is common.
- Romans 12:6 That which he spake before in general, he applieth particularly to the holy functions, wherein men offend with greater danger. And he divideth them into two sorts, to wit, into Prophets, and Deacons, and again he divideth the Prophets into doctors, and Pastors. And of Deacons he maketh three sorts: to wit, the one to be such as are (as it were) treasurers of the Church coffers, whom he calleth properly Deacons: the other to be the governors of discipline, who are called Seniors or Elders: the third to be such as properly served in the help of the poor, of which sort the company of widows were.
- Romans 12:6 That every man observe the measure of that which is revealed unto him.
- Romans 12:7 Whose office only is to expound the Scriptures.
- Romans 12:8 Who in other places is called the Pastor.
- Romans 12:8 To wit, the alms, that he distribute them faithfully, and without respect of person.
- Romans 12:8 The Elders of the Church.
- Romans 12:8 They that are busied about tending on the poor, must do it with cheerfulness, lest they add sorrow to sorrow.
- Romans 12:9 Now he cometh to the duties of the second Table, which he deriveth from charity, which is as it were the fountain of them all. And he defineth Christian charity by sincerity, hatred of evil, earnest study of good things, good affection to help our neighbor, and whose final end is, the glory of God.
- Romans 12:11 This piece is well put in, for it maketh difference between Christian duties, and Philosophical duties.
- Romans 12:12 He reckoneth up divers other virtues together with their effects, to wit, hope, patience in tribulation, equanimity, continuance in prayer, liberality towards the saints, hospitality, moderation of mind, even in helping our enemies, a selfsame feeling with others as well in adversity as prosperity, modesty, endeavor to maintain honest concord so nigh as we may with all men, which cannot be extinguished by any man’s injuries.
- Romans 12:13 A true rule of charity, when we are no less touched with other men’s wants, than with our own, and having that feeling, help them as much as we can.
- Romans 12:13 Not upon pleasure, and needless duties, but upon necessary uses.
- Romans 12:16 There is nothing that doth so much break concord as ambition, when as every man loatheth a base estate, and seeketh ambitiously to be aloft.
- Romans 12:16 Be not puffed up, with opinion of your own wisdom.
- Romans 12:20 After this sort doth Solomon point out the wrath of God which hangeth over a man.
Romans 12
Authorized (King James) Version
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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 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.
9 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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.