Romans 12

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.

1Brothers and sisters, God has been very kind to us. So I ask you this. Give God your whole self, your body and your life. Be a gift that is alive and set apart for him. This pleases God. It is the sensible way to serve him.

Note"Reasonable service" is old English. It means the kind of worship and service that makes good sense.

2And 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.

2Do not copy the way the world around you lives. Let God change you by making your thinking new. Then you will know what God wants. What he wants is good, and it pleases him, and it is perfect.

3For 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.

3God was kind to me and gave me this job. So I say this to every one of you. Do not think you are better than you really are. Think about yourself in an honest way. God has given each of you a share of faith, which is trust in him.

4For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

4Think about your own body. It has many parts. Not every part does the same job.

5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

5We are many people. But together, joined to Christ, we are one body. Each one of us belongs to all the others.

6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

6God is kind, and he gives each of us different gifts. Some can speak messages from God. Let them speak, using the trust God gave them.

7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

7Some are good at helping others. Then let them help. Some are good at teaching. Then let them teach.

8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

8Some are good at cheering people up. Then let them do that. If you give things away, give freely. If you lead people, lead with care. If you are kind to hurting people, be kind with a happy heart.

9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

9Love people for real. Do not fake it. Hate what is evil. Hold on tight to what is good.

10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

10Care for each other the way a close family does. Be the first to treat others as important.

11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

11Do not get lazy. Stay eager, with a warm heart inside you. Keep serving the Lord.

Note"Not slothful in business" is old English. "Business" here does not mean a job or a company. It means being eager and not lazy.

12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

12Be glad, because of what God has promised. Be patient when life is hard. Keep on praying and do not stop.

13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

13Share what you have with God's people when they are in need. Be glad to welcome people into your home.

14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

14Ask God to be good to people who treat you badly. Wish them good, not harm.

15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

15Be happy with people who are happy. Cry with people who are crying.

16Be 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.

16Live together in peace, and try to agree with each other. Do not be proud. Be glad to spend time with people others think are unimportant. Do not think you are so clever.

Note"Condescend to men of low estate" is old English. It does not mean looking down on people. It means being happy to be with people others ignore.

17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

17If someone hurts you, do not hurt them back. Choose to do what everyone can see is right.

18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

18Do everything you can to live in peace with everyone.

19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

19Dear friends, do not pay people back for hurting you. Leave that for God to sort out. The Bible says, "Paying back is my job. I will do it, says the Lord."

20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

20Instead, if your enemy is hungry, give him food. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. When you do this, you will "pile burning coals on his head."

Note"Heap coals of fire on his head" is an old saying, quoted from the book of Proverbs. It is a word picture, not a real fire.

21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

21Do not let evil beat you. Beat evil by doing good.