1THEREFORE, MY BROTHERS. I implore you by God's mercy to offer your very selves to him: a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for his acceptance, the worship offered by mind and heart. 2Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world, but let your minds be remade and your whole nature thus transformed. Then you will be able to discern the will of God, and to know what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
3In virtue of the gift that God in his grace has given me I say to everyone among you: do not be conceited or think too highly of yourself; but think your way to a sober estimate based on the measure of faith that God has dealt to each of you. 4For just as in a single human body there are many limbs and organs, all with different functions, 5so all of us, united with Christ, form one body, serving individually as limbs and organs to one another.
6The gifts we possess differ as they are allotted to us by God's grace, and must be exercised accordingly: the gift of inspired utterance, for example, in proportion to a man's faith; 7or the gift of administration, in administration. A teacher should employ his gift in teaching, 8and one who has the gift of stirring speech should use it to stir his hearers. If you give to charity, give with all your heart; if you are a leader, exert yourself to lead; if you are helping others in distress, do it cheerfully.
9Love in all sincerity, loathing evil and clinging to the good. 10Let love for our brotherhood breed warmth of mutual affection. Give pride of place to one another in esteem.
11With unflagging energy, in ardour of spirit, serve the Lord.
12Let hope keep you joyful; in trouble stand firm; persist in prayer.
13Contribute to the needs of God's people, and practise hospitality.
14Call down blessings on your persecutors-blessings, not curses.
15With the joyful be joyful, and mourn with the mourners.
16Care as much about each other as about yourselves. Do not be haughty, but go about with humble folk. Do not keep thinking how wise you are.
17 [ Pr.3.4. ] Never pay back evil for evil. Let your aims be such as all men count honourable. 18If possible, so far as it is lies with you, live at peace with all men. 19 [ Dt.32.35. ] My dear friends, do not seek revenge, but leave a place for divine retribution; for there is a text which reads, 'Justice is mine, says the Lord, I will repay.' 20 [ Pr.25.21-22. ] But there is another text: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; by doing this you will heap live coals on his head.' 21Do not let evil conquer you, but use good to defeat evil.
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