1 T herefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Christian brothers, I ask you from my heart to give your bodies to God because of His loving-kindness to us. Let your bodies be a living and holy gift given to God. He is pleased with this kind of gift. This is the true worship that you should give Him.

2 A nd do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.

3 F or through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

God has given me His loving-favor. This helps me write these things to you. I ask each one of you not to think more of himself than he should think. Instead, think in the right way toward yourself by the faith God has given you.

4 F or just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,

Our bodies are made up of many parts. None of these parts have the same use.

5 s o we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

There are many people who belong to Christ. And yet, we are one body which is Christ’s. We are all different but we depend on each other.

6 S ince we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

We all have different gifts that God has given to us by His loving-favor. We are to use them. If someone has the gift of preaching the Good News, he should preach. He should use the faith God has given him.

7 i f service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;

If someone has the gift of helping others, then he should help. If someone has the gift of teaching, he should teach.

8 o r he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

If someone has the gift of speaking words of comfort and help, he should speak. If someone has the gift of sharing what he has, he should give from a willing heart. If someone has the gift of leading other people, he should lead them. If someone has the gift of showing kindness to others, he should be happy as he does it.

9 L et love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be sure your love is true love. Hate what is sinful. Hold on to whatever is good.

10 B e devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

Love each other as Christian brothers. Show respect for each other.

11 n ot lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Do not be lazy but always work hard. Work for the Lord with a heart full of love for Him.

12 r ejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Be happy in your hope. Do not give up when trouble comes. Do not let anything stop you from praying.

13 c ontributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Share what you have with Christian brothers who are in need. Give meals and a place to stay to those who need it.

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

Pray and give thanks for those who make trouble for you. Yes, pray for them instead of talking against them.

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

Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad.

16 B e of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Live in peace with each other. Do not act or think with pride. Be happy to be with poor people. Keep yourself from thinking you are so wise.

17 N ever pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

When someone does something bad to you, do not pay him back with something bad. Try to do what all men know is right and good.

18 I f possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

As much as you can, live in peace with all men.

19 N ever take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “ Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Christian brothers, never pay back someone for the bad he has done to you. Let the anger of God take care of the other person. The Holy Writings say, “I will pay back to them what they should get, says the Lord.”

20 “ But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

“If the one who hates you is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water. If you do that, you will be making him more ashamed of himself.”

21 D o not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Do not let sin have power over you. Let good have power over sin!