Rom 12 | LSB | STEP | Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Romans 12

A Living and Holy Sacrifice

1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your ^{▼▼Or rational}spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this ^{▼▼Or age}world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and ^{▼▼Or complete}perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another, 6 but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: whether prophecy, ^{▼▼Or according to the proportion of his faith}in agreement with the faith; 7 or ^{▼▼Or office of service}service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with ^{▼▼Or simplicity; without false motives}generosity; he who ^{▼▼Or gives aid}leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy—by abhorring what is evil, clinging to what is good, 10 being devoted to one another in brotherly love, ^{▼▼Or outdo one another in showing honor}giving preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, being devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the ^{▼▼Or holy ones}saints, pursuing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute ^{▼▼Two early mss omit you}you; bless, and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep, 16 by being of the same mind toward one another, not being haughty in mind, but ^{▼▼Or accommodate yourself to lowly things}associating with the humble. Do not be wise in your own mind. 17 Never paying back evil for evil to anyone, ^{▼▼Lit take thought for}respecting what is good in the sight of all men, 18 if possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all men, 19 never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead ^{▼▼Lit give a place}leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” 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.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.