| I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. | And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. |
| And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. | Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. |
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| For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. | Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. |
| For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. | Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. |
| Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. | Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. |
| Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. | Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. |
| Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. | Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. |
| Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. | Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. |
| Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. | Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. |
| Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. | Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. |
| Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. | Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! |
| If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. | Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. |
| Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. | Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. |
| Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. | Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. |
