1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your⚓ faith; 7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,⚓ do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Love in Action
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.⚓ Do not be conceited. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”⚓ says the Lord. 20On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”⚓ 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
12
Lub neej tshiab
1Yog li no, cov kwvtij, vim Vajtswv txojkev khuvleej kuv thiaj thov nej muab nej lub cev xyeem pub rau Vajtswv, yog yam uas xyeem ciaj sia thiab dawb huv thiab txaus Vajtswv lub siab ua qhov uas nej sab ntsuj plig pe hawm Vajtswv. 2Tsis txhob yoog raws li tej neeg tiam no ua. Nej yuav tsum txais kev hloov dua siab nej tej kev xav thiaj hloov dua tshiab. Mas nej yuav paub tias Vajtswv lub siab nyiam li cas thiaj paub tias yam uas zoo thiab yam uas txaus nws siab thiab yam uas zoo kawg nkaus. 3Kuv hais rau nej txhua tus hauv Vajtswv txojkev hlub uas pub rau kuv lawm tias, nej tsis txhob xav tias nej tus kheej loj dhau li uas tsim nyog xav, tiamsis nej yuav tsum ua tib zoo xav kom phim qhov uas Vajtswv pub txojkev ntseeg npaum li cas rau nej. 4Hauv peb lub cev peb muaj ntau yam thiab txhua yam ntawd tsis yog ua tib yam haujlwm xwb. 5Ib yam li ntawd, peb muaj coob leej kuj koom ib lub cev hauv Khetos thiab ib leeg koom rau ib leeg. 6Peb txhua tus nyias muaj nyias tswvyim raws li txojkev hlub uas Vajtswv pub rau peb. Yog nws pub kom cev Vajtswv lus, kuj cia li cev raws li muaj kev ntseeg npaum li cas, 7tus txawj tu lwm tus, cia li ua koom, tus txawj qhuab qhia cia li qhuab qhia, 8tus txawj txhawb lwm tus lub zog cia li txhawb, tus txawj pub rau luag, cia li ua siab dav pub, tus txawj kav cia li muab siab rau kav, tus txawj khuvleej luag cia li zoo siab hlo khuvleej. 9Cia li hlub tuaj nruab siab tiag tiag. Cia li ntxub yam uas phem, tuav rawv yam uas zoo. 10Cia li sib hlub li kwvtij sib hlub. Muab lwm tus saib hlob dua yus. 11Cia li rau siab ua haujlwm tsis txhob qaug zog, cia li kub siab lug sab ntsuj plig⚓ ua koom tu tus Tswv. 12Cia li zoo siab xyiv fab rau hauv txojkev vam, cia li ua lub siab ntev thev kev txom nyem, thiab thov Vajtswv tsis tseg tsis tu li. 13Cia li pub rau cov xov dawb uas tu pluas, thiab ua siab dav txais qhua. 14Cia li foom koob hmoov rau cov uas tsim txom nej, cia li foom koob hmoov rau lawv tsis txhob tsawm foom li. 15Cia li nrog cov uas xyiv fab zoo siab xyiv fab, thiab nrog cov uas quaj, quaj. 16Cia li koom ua ib lub siab, tsis txhob tsab ua loj, yuav tsum yeem koom nrog cov neeg tsis tseem ceeb. Tsis txhob xav tias yus ntse dua. 17Tsis txhob ua phem pauj phem rau leejtwg kiag li, tiamsis tsom ntsoov ua yam uas sawvdaws pom tias zoo. 18Yog ua tau mas koj yuav siv zog nrog luag nyob sib hum xeeb npaum li uas koj tus kheej ua tau. 19Nej cov uas kuv hlub, tsis txhob sib pauj, cia li muab qhov no tso rau Vajtswv txojkev npau taws vim muaj lus sau cia hais tias, “Qhov uas ua pauj yog kuv li feem, kuv yuav pauj. Tus Tswv hais li no ntag.”⚓20Tiamsis “Yog koj tus yeeb ncuab tshaib plab cia li muab mov rau nws noj, yog nws nqhis dej cia li muab rau nws haus, Yog koj ua li ntawd, koj yuav rauv ib cub thee cig plaws rau saum nws taubhau.”⚓ 21Tsis txhob cia kev phem kov yeej nej, tiamsis cia qhov zoo kov yeej qhov phem.