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¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to you, that you present your bodies a living victim, holy, acceptable unto God, as the service of a rational being. ² and be not conformed to the present age: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may perceive what God requires of you is good, and acceptable, and perfect. ³ Now it is by virtue of my apostolical commission, that I charge every man among you, not to entertain too high an opinion of himself; but modestly consider, that 'tis God who has dealt to every man his proportion of spiritual gifts. ⁴ for as there are many members in one and the same body, but all the members have not the same office: ⁵ so we who are many, make all but one body in Christ, and every member subservient to one another. ⁶ having then different gifts, according to the respective favour bestowed upon us; if it be prophecy, let him prophesy according to the proportion of his gift. ⁷ if it be the ministry, let him attend on that ministry; and he that teacheth, on teaching; he that exhorteth, ⁸ on exhortation: he that giveth, let him be disinterested; he that presideth, let him be diligent; he that sheweth mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness. ⁹ Let love be without dissimulation. abhor that which is evil, adhere to that which is good. ¹⁰ in brotherly kindness be passionately affected to one another; in honour prefer one another: ¹¹ in business be not slothful, but of an active mind, making the best use of every incident. ¹² be joyful in hope; be patient under affliction; persevere in prayer; ¹³ distribute to the necessity of the saints; cultivate hospitality. ¹⁴ bless them who persecute you: ¹⁵ bless them, but curse not. rejoice with those that do rejoice, and weep with those that weep. ¹⁶ have the same respect for one another. let not your behaviour be haughty, but soften'd to the condition of those below you. be not wise in your own conceits. ¹⁷ Render no man evil for evil. mind such things as are approved not only by God, but by men. ¹⁸ do all you can to live peaceably, if it be possible, with all mankind. ¹⁹ dear brethren, avenge not yourselves, but leave that to the resentment of another: for it is written , "vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." ²⁰ therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head . ²¹ be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.