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I beseech you, therefore, my brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, by a rational service [fn] . ² And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed, by the renovation of your minds: and discern ye what is the good and acceptable and perfect pleasure of God.³ And, by the grace given to me, I say to you all: Do not carry thoughts, beyond what ye ought to think; but think with modesty, as God hath distributed to each one his measure of faith.⁴ For as we [fn] have many members in one body, and all those members have not the same functions; ⁵ so also we, who are [fn] many persons, are one body in Messiah, and are naturally members of each other. ⁶ But we have different gifts, according to the grace given to us. There is that of prophecy, according to the measure of his faith.⁷ And there is that of ministration, possessed by one in his ministry. And there is that of a teacher, in his teaching.⁸ And there is that of a consoler, in his consoling: And that of a giver, with simplicity: And that of a presider, with dexterity: And of a sympathizer, with cheerfulness. ‡1⁹ Let not your love be guileful: but be haters of evil things, and adherers to good things.¹⁰ Be affectionate to your brethren: and love one another. Be foremost in honoring one another.¹¹ Be active; and not slothful. Be fervent in spirit. Be laborers for our Lord.¹² Be joyful in your hope. Be patient under your afflictions. Be persevering in prayer.¹³ Be communicators to the wants of the saints. Be kind to strangers.¹⁴ Bless your persecutors: bless, and curse not.¹⁵ Rejoice with them who rejoice: and weep with them who weep.¹⁶ What estimation ye make of yourselves, [fn] also of your brethren. And indulge not high thoughts; but unite yourselves with the lowly minded. And be not wise in your own estimation. ¹⁷ And repay to no man evil for evil: but let it be your study to do good before all men.¹⁸ And if possible, so far as it dependeth on you, live in peace with every man.¹⁹ And be ye not avengers of yourselves, my beloved: but give place to wrath. For it is written: If thou dost not execute judgment for thyself, I will execute judgment for thee, saith God.²⁰ And if thy adversary be hungry, feed him: and if he be thirsty, give him drink. For if thou doest these things to him, thou wilt heap coals of fire on his head.²¹ Be ye not overcome by evil; but overcome evil with good.