12 So then, brothers and sisters, with compassion from God I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to God—your logical and sacred service. 2 Don’t conform to the norms of this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, then you’ll be able to accept and approve God’s good, pleasing, and perfect intentions.

3 Because of the generosity which has been shown to me, I’m saying that none of you should think of yourself more highly than what’s appropriate, but rather you should be sensible about what you think of yourselves according to how much faith God’s allotted to each of you. 4 Just like one body has many components, and each individual component works differently,[ref] 5 so too we’re all part of one body in Messiah and we’re all parts of each other. 6 We have gifts according to the special generosity that was shown to us:[ref] if it’s prophecy, then do it in proportion to your faith, 7 or if it’s service, then serve, or teaching, then teach, 8 or encouraging, then encourage, or sharing, then be generous, or leading, then do it earnestly, or showing mercy, then do it cheerfully.

9 Your love is to be free from hypocrisy. Deplore evil, and be united in doing good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, preferring to honour one another above yourselves. 11 Be diligent, rather than reluctant, with a spirit that’s zealous to serve the master. 12 Be cheerful about your hope, enduring persecution and consistently praying. 13 Contribute to the needs of the believers and practice hospitality.

14 Bless anyone who persecutes you—be a blesser and not a curser.[ref] 15 Be cheerful along with others who are happy, but weep along with those who are weeping. 16 Treat others equally—not treating some as higher, and being condescending to those who are poorer. Don’t act in a calculating way.[ref]

17 Don’t pay back anyone’s evil with evil, but do good to everyone. 18 If it’s possible for you, brothers and sisters, be at peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, don’t take revenge on others, but leave it to God’s severe anger, because it’s written: ‘Yahweh says, Vengeance belongs to me—I’ll be the one to repay.’[ref] 20 But if your enemies are hungry, then feed them, and if they’re thirsty, then give them a drink, because you’ll be leaving them to their own shame and judgement.[ref] 21 Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.