Study Desk

Therefore ^(a)I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to ^(b)present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, ^[a]acceptable to God, which is your ^[b]spiritual service of worship.

And do not ^(c)be conformed to ^(d)this ^[c]world, but be transformed by the ^(e)renewing of your mind, so that you may ^[d](f)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and ^[e]acceptable and perfect.

For through ^(g)the grace given to me I say to everyone among you ^(h)not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to ⁽ⁱ⁾each a measure of faith.

For ^(j)just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,

so we, ^(k)who are many, are ^(l)one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Since we have gifts that ^(m)differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if ⁽ⁿ⁾prophecy, ^[f]according to the proportion of his faith;

if ^[g](o)service, in his serving; or he who ^(p)teaches, in his teaching;

or he who ^(q)exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with ^[h](r)liberality; ^(s)he who ^[i]leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with ^(t)cheerfulness.

Let ^(u)love be without hypocrisy. ^(v)Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be ^(w)devoted to one another in brotherly love; ^[j]give preference to one another ^(x)in honor;

not lagging behind in diligence, ^(y)fervent in spirit, ^(z)serving the Lord;

^(aa)rejoicing in hope, ^(ab)persevering in tribulation, ^(ac)devoted to prayer,

^(ad)contributing to the needs of the ^[k]saints, ^[l](ae)practicing hospitality.

^(af)Bless those who persecute ^[m]you; bless and do not curse.

^(ag)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

^(ah)Be of the same mind toward one another; ^(ai)do not be haughty in mind, but ^[n]associate with the lowly. ^(aj)Do not be wise in your own estimation.

^(ak)Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. ^[o](al)Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

If possible, ^(am)so far as it depends on you, ^(an)be at peace with all men.

^(ao)Never take your own revenge, beloved, but ^[p]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "^(ap) Vengeance is Mine , I will repay ," says the Lord.

"^(aq) But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head ."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.