Romans 12
The full text of Romans 12 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
13 Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Translation notes (13)
- Romans 12:1a The Greek phrase 'logiken latreian' refers to "your reasonable," "spiritual," or "rational worship"; the adjective 'logiken' is difficult to translate with a single English word.
- Romans 12:1b The Greek word 'adelphoi' means "brothers and sisters," and 'oiktirmon' means "compassions" or "mercies."
- Romans 12:2a The Greek phrase 'me syschematizesthe' means "do not be conformed," and 'metamorphousthe' means "be transformed"; 'to aioni touto' means "this age."
- Romans 12:3a The Greek phrase 'metron pisteos' means "a measure of faith."
- Romans 12:6a The Greek phrase 'kata ten analogian tes pisteos' means "in proportion to" or "in agreement with the faith."
- Romans 12:8a The Greek word 'en haploteti' means "with sincerity" or "with generosity"; 'en hilaroteti' means "with cheerfulness," and is the origin of the English word "hilarious."
- Romans 12:9a The Greek word 'anypokritos' means "without hypocrisy" or "unfeigned."
- Romans 12:10a The Greek word 'philadelphia' means "brotherly love," and 'philostorgoi' means "tenderly affectionate" or "family love."
- Romans 12:11a The Greek phrase 'to pneumati zeontes' means "boiling" or "glowing in spirit."
- Romans 12:13a The Greek phrase 'ten philoxenian diokontes' means "pursuing love of strangers" or "hospitality."
- Romans 12:16a This can also be translated as "be willing to do humble work"; the Greek phrase 'tois tapeinois synapagomenoi' is ambiguous, meaning it can refer to either humble people or humble tasks.
- Romans 12:19a This verse quotes Deuteronomy 32:35.
- Romans 12:20a This verse quotes Proverbs 25:21-22. The meaning of "burning coals" in this context is debated, referring either to shame leading to repentance or to judgment.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own translation of Scripture, made directly from the original Greek rather than revised from an older English Bible. Completed in 2026, it is the most modern English Bible translation available, and it is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Reading the TBV here on the web is free — the full study edition, with original-language tools and notes on every verse, lives in the Trinity Bible app.
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