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 call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice -- living, sanctified, 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 age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what the will of God -- the good, and acceptable, and perfect.

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 that was given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think above what it behoveth to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God did deal 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, and 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.

so we, the many, one body are in Christ, and members each one of one another.

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;

And having gifts, different according to the grace that was 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 ministration -- `In the ministration!' or he who is teaching -- `In the 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 who is exhorting -- `In the exhortation!' he who is sharing -- `In simplicity!' he who is leading -- `In diligence?' he who is doing kindness -- `In cheerfulness.'

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

The love unfeigned: abhorring the evil; cleaving to the good;

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

in the love of brethren, to one another kindly affectioned: in the honour going before one another;

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

in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;

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

in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;

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

to the necessities of the saints communicating; the hospitality pursuing.

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

Bless those persecuting you; bless, and curse not;

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

to rejoice with the rejoicing, and to weep with the weeping,

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.

of the same mind one toward another, not minding the high things, but with the lowly going along; become not wise in your own conceit;

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

giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men.

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

If possible -- so far as in you -- with all men being in peace;

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 the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance Mine,

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.

I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;

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

Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.