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Romans - Chapter 12

¹ I urge you, then, brothers, remembering the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, dedicated and acceptable to God; that is the kind of worship for you, as sensible people.

² Do not model your behaviour on the contemporary world, but let the renewing of your minds transform you, so that you may discern for yourselves what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and mature.

³ And through the grace that I have been given, I say this to every one of you: never pride yourself on being better than you really are, but think of yourself dispassionately, recognising that God has given to each one his measure of faith.

⁴ Just as each of us has various parts in one body, and the parts do not all have the same function:

⁵ in the same way, all of us, though there are so many of us, make up one body in Christ, and as different parts we are all joined to one another.

⁶ Then since the gifts that we have differ according to the grace that was given to each of us: if it is a gift of prophecy, we should prophesy as much as our faith tells us;

⁷ if it is a gift of practical service, let us devote ourselves to serving; if it is teaching, to teaching;

⁸ if it is encouraging, to encouraging. When you give, you should give generously from the heart; if you are put in charge, you must be conscientious; if you do works of mercy, let it be because you enjoy doing them.

⁹ Let love be without any pretence. Avoid what is evil; stick to what is good.

¹⁰ In brotherly love let your feelings of deep affection for one another come to expression and regard others as more important than yourself.

¹¹ In the service of the Lord, work not halfheartedly but with conscientiousness and an eager spirit.

¹² Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship; keep praying regularly;

¹³ share with any of God's holy people who are in need; look for opportunities to be hospitable.

¹⁴ Bless your persecutors; never curse them, bless them.

¹⁵ Rejoice with others when they rejoice, and be sad with those in sorrow.

¹⁶ Give the same consideration to all others alike. Pay no regard to social standing, but meet humble people on their own terms. Do not congratulate yourself on your own wisdom.

¹⁷ Never pay back evil with evil, but bear in mind the ideals that all regard with respect.

¹⁸ As much as possible, and to the utmost of your ability, be at peace with everyone.

¹⁹ Never try to get revenge: leave that, my dear friends, to the Retribution. As scripture says: Vengeance is mine -- I will pay them back, the Lord promises.

²⁰ And more: If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if thirsty, something to drink. By this, you will be heaping red-hot coals on his head.

²¹ Do not be mastered by evil, but master evil with good.