2 And do not abe conformed to bthis 1world, but be transformed by the crenewing of your mind, so that you may 2dprove what the will of God is, that which is good and 3acceptable and perfect.

3 For through athe grace given to me I say to everyone among you bnot 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 ceach a measure of faith.

4 For ajust as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,

5 so we, awho are many, are bone body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

6 Since we have gifts that adiffer according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if bprophecy, 1according to the proportion of his faith;

7 if 1aservice, in his serving; or he who bteaches, in his teaching;

8 or he who aexhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with 1bliberality; che who 2leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with dcheerfulness.

9 Let alove be without hypocrisy. bAbhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be adevoted to one another in brotherly love; 1give preference to one another bin honor;

11 not lagging behind in diligence, afervent in spirit, bserving the Lord;

12 arejoicing in hope, bpersevering in tribulation, cdevoted to prayer,

13 acontributing to the needs of the 1saints, 2bpracticing hospitality.

14 aBless those who persecute 1you; bless and do not curse.

15 aRejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 aBe of the same mind toward one another; bdo not be haughty in mind, but 1associate with the lowly. cDo not be wise in your own estimation.

17 aNever pay back evil for evil to anyone. 1bRespect what is right in the sight of all men.

18 If possible, aso far as it depends on you, bbe at peace with all men.

19 aNever take your own revenge, beloved, but 1leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “bVengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 “aBut 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.”

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

Chapter 13

Be Subject to Government

1 Every 1aperson is to be in bsubjection to the governing authorities. For cthere is no authority except 2from God, and those which exist are established by God.

2 Therefore 1whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

3 For arulers are not a cause of fear for 1good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an aavenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also afor conscience’ sake.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

7 aRender to all what is due them: btax to whom tax is due; ccustom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for ahe who loves 1his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 For this, “aYou shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “bYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love 1does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore alove is the fulfillment of the law.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is aalready the hour for you to bawaken from sleep; for now 1salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

12 aThe night is almost gone, and bthe day is near. Therefore let us lay aside cthe deeds of darkness and put on dthe armor of light.

13 Let us 1abehave properly as in the day, bnot in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

14 But aput on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh bin regard to its lusts.