Romans

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice

1 So I call on you, brothers, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God — your reasoned service. 2 And do not be shaped to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may test what the will of God is — the good and well pleasing and complete.

Limbs of One Another

3 For through the favor given to me I say to everyone who is among you not to think above what he ought to think, but to think so as to think soundly, to each as God has apportioned a measure of faith. 4 For just as in one body we have many limbs, and all the limbs do not have the same action, 5 so we, the many, are one body in Christ, and individually limbs of one another.

6 And having gifts of favor that differ according to the favor given to us: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; 7 if service, in the service; if the one who teaches, in the teaching; 8 if the one who encourages, in the encouragement; the one who shares, in simplicity; the one who stands in front, in diligence; the one who shows mercy, in cheerfulness.

Let Love Be Without Hypocrisy

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Hating what is evil, clinging to what is good; 10 in brotherly love, tenderly devoted to one another; in honor, going before one another; 11 in diligence, not lazy; boiling in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, enduring in affliction, devoting yourselves to prayer, 13 sharing in the needs of the holy ones, pursuing love for strangers.

14 Bless those who persecute; bless and do not curse. 15 To rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep. 16 Thinking the same toward one another; not thinking high things, but being carried along with the lowly. Do not become discerning in your own eyes.

Do Not Be Conquered by Evil

17 Repaying no one evil for evil; planning what is good before all people; 18 if possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all people; 19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give room to the wrath; for it is written:

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay,

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 fiery coals on his head.”

21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.