| Chapter 12 |
1 | I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice -- living, sanctified, acceptable to God -- your intelligent service;
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2 | and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God -- the good, and acceptable, and perfect.
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3 | For I say, through the grace that was given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think above what it behoveth to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God did deal a measure of faith,
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4 | for as in one body we have many members, and all the members have not the same office,
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5 | so we, the many, one body are in Christ, and members each one of one another.
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6 | And having gifts, different according to the grace that was given to us; whether prophecy -- 'According to the proportion of faith!'
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7 | or ministration -- 'In the ministration!' or he who is teaching -- 'In the teaching!'
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8 | or he who is exhorting -- 'In the exhortation!' he who is sharing -- 'In simplicity!' he who is leading -- 'In diligence?' he who is doing kindness -- 'In cheerfulness.'
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9 | The love unfeigned: abhorring the evil; cleaving to the good;
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10 | in the love of brethren, to one another kindly affectioned: in the honour going before one another;
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11 | in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;
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12 | in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;
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13 | to the necessities of the saints communicating; the hospitality pursuing.
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14 | Bless those persecuting you; bless, and curse not;
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15 | to rejoice with the rejoicing, and to weep with the weeping,
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16 | of the same mind one toward another, not minding the high things, but with the lowly going along; become not wise in your own conceit;
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17 | giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men.
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18 | If possible -- so far as in you -- with all men being in peace;
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19 | not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, 'Vengeance [is] Mine,
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20 | I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;
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21 | Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.
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