1 P or lo tanto, hermanos, os ruego por las misericordias de Dios que presentéis vuestros cuerpos como sacrificio vivo, santo, agradable a Dios, que es vuestro verdadero culto.

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 N o os conforméis a este mundo, sino transformaos por medio de la renovación de vuestro entendimiento, para que comprobéis cuál es la buena voluntad de Dios, agradable y perfecta.

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 D igo, pues, por la gracia que me es dada, a cada cual que está entre vosotros, que no tenga más alto concepto de sí que el que debe tener, sino que piense de sí con cordura, conforme a la medida de fe que Dios repartió a cada uno.

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 D e la manera que en un cuerpo tenemos muchos miembros, pero no todos los miembros tienen la misma función,

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

5 a sí nosotros, siendo muchos, somos un cuerpo en Cristo, y todos miembros los unos de los otros.

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 T enemos, pues, diferentes dones, según la gracia que nos es dada: el que tiene el don de profecía, úselo conforme a la medida de la fe;

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 e l de servicio, en servir; el que enseña, en la enseñanza;

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

8 e l que exhorta, en la exhortación; el que reparte, con generosidad; el que preside, con solicitud; el que hace misericordia, con alegría. Deberes de la vida cristiana

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 E l amor sea sin fingimiento. Aborreced lo malo y seguid lo bueno.

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

10 A maos los unos a los otros con amor fraternal; en cuanto a honra, prefiriéndoos los unos a los otros.

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

11 E n lo que requiere diligencia, no perezosos; fervientes en espíritu, sirviendo al Señor;

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

12 g ozosos en la esperanza, sufridos en la tribulación, constantes en la oración.

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

13 C ompartid las necesidades de los santos y practicad la hospitalidad.

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 endecid a los que os persiguen; bendecid y no maldigáis.

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

15 G ozaos con los que se gozan; llorad con los que lloran.

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

16 U nánimes entre vosotros; no seáis altivos, sino asociaos con los humildes. No seáis sabios en vuestra propia opinión.

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 o paguéis a nadie mal por mal; procurad lo bueno delante de todos los hombres.

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 S i es posible, en cuanto dependa de vosotros, estad en paz con todos los hombres.

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

19 N o os venguéis vosotros mismos, amados míos, sino dejad lugar a la ira de Dios, porque escrito está: «Mía es la venganza, yo pagaré, dice el Señor.»

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 A sí que, si tu enemigo tiene hambre, dale de comer; si tiene sed, dale de beber, pues haciendo esto, harás que le arda la cara de vergüenza.

“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 N o seas vencido de lo malo, sino vence con el bien el mal.

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