1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your intelligent service.

2 D o not be conformed to this world (this age),, but be transformed (changed) by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect.

And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of mind, that ye may prove what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

3 F or by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought, but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.

For I say, through the grace which has been given to me, to every one that is among you, not to have high thoughts above what he should think; but to think so as to be wise, as God has dealt to each a measure of faith.

4 F or as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use,

For, as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office;

5 S o we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another.

thus we, many, are one body in Christ, and each one members one of the other.

6 H aving gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

But having different gifts, according to the grace which has been given to us, whether prophecy, according to the proportion of faith;

7 p ractical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching;

or service, in service; or he that teaches, in teaching;

8 H e who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.

or he that exhorts, in exhortation; he that gives, in simplicity; he that leads, with diligence; he that shews mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 l ove be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil, but hold fast to that which is good.

Let love be unfeigned; abhorring evil; cleaving to good:

10 L ove one another with brotherly affection, giving precedence and showing honor to one another.

as to brotherly love, kindly affectioned towards one another: as to honour, each taking the lead in paying it to the other:

11 N ever lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.

as to diligent zealousness, not slothful; in spirit fervent; serving the Lord.

12 R ejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.

As regards hope, rejoicing: as regards tribulation, enduring: as regards prayer, persevering:

13 C ontribute to the needs of God’s people; pursue the practice of hospitality.

distributing to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality.

14 B less those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.

15 R ejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Rejoice with those that rejoice, weep with those that weep.

16 L ive in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.

Have the same respect one for another, not minding high things, but going along with the lowly: be not wise in your own eyes:

17 R epay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble in the sight of everyone.

recompensing to no one evil for evil: providing things honest before all men:

18 I f possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

if possible, as far as depends on you, living in peace with all men;

19 B eloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.

not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.

20 B ut if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.

If therefore thine enemy should hunger, feed him; if he should thirst, give him drink; for, so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

21 D o not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.

Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.