Obsecro itaque vos fratres per misericordiam Dei, ut exhibeatis corpora vestra hostiam viventem, sanctam, Deo placentem, rationabile obsequium vestrum.

I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service.

And now, brethren, I appeal to you by God’s mercies to offer up your bodies as a living sacrifice, consecrated to God and worthy of his acceptance; this is the worship due from you as rational creatures.

Et nolite conformari huic sæculo, sed reformamini in novitate sensus vestri: ut probetis quæ sit voluntas Dei bona, et beneplacens, et perfecta.

And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.

And you must not fall in with the manners of this world; there must be an inward change, a remaking of your minds, so that you can satisfy yourselves what is God’s will, the good thing, the desirable thing, the perfect thing.

Dico enim per gratiam quæ data est mihi, omnibus qui sunt inter vos, non plus sapere quam oportet sapere, sed sapere ad sobrietatem: et unicuique sicut Deus divisit mensuram fidei.

For I say, by the grace that is given me, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety, and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith.

Thus, in virtue of the grace that is given me, I warn every man who is of your company not to think highly of himself, beyond his just estimation, but to have a sober esteem of himself, according to the measure of faith which God has apportioned to each.

Sicut enim in uno corpore multa membra habemus, omnia autem membra non eumdem actum habent:

For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office:

Each of us has one body, with many different parts, and not all these parts have the same function;

ita multi unum corpus sumus in Christo, singuli autem alter alterius membra.

So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

just so we, though many in number, form one body in Christ, and each acts as the counterpart of another.

Habentes autem donationes secundum gratiam, quæ data est nobis, differentes: sive prophetiam secundum rationem fidei,

And having different gifts, according to the grace that is given us, either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith;

The spiritual gifts we have differ, according to the special grace which has been assigned to each. If a man is a prophet, let him prophesy as far as the measure of his faith will let him.

sive ministerium in ministrando, sive qui docet in doctrina,

Or ministry, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in doctrine;

The administrator must be content with his administration, the teacher, with his work of teaching,

qui exhortatur in exhortando, qui tribuit in simplicitate, qui præest in sollicitudine, qui miseretur in hilaritate.

He that exhorteth, in exhorting; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that ruleth, with carefulness; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

the preacher, with his preaching. Each must perform his own task well; giving alms with generosity, exercising authority with anxious care, or doing works of mercy smilingly.

Dilectio sine simulatione: odientes malum, adhærentes bono:

Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good.

Your love must be a sincere love; you must hold what is evil in abomination, fix all your desire upon what is good.

caritate fraternitatis invicem diligentes: honore invicem prævenientes:

Loving one another with the charity of brotherhood, with honour preventing one another.

Be affectionate towards each other, as the love of brothers demands, eager to give one another precedence.

sollicitudine non pigri: spiritu ferventes: Domino servientes:

In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord.

I would see you unwearied in activity, aglow with the Spirit, waiting like slaves upon the Lord;

spe gaudentes: in tribulatione patientes: orationi instantes:

Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer.

buoyed up by hope, patient in affliction, persevering in prayer;

necessitatibus sanctorum communicantes: hospitalitatem sectantes.

Communicating to the necessities of the saints. Pursuing hospitality.

providing generously for the needs of the saints, giving the stranger a loving welcome.

Benedicite persequentibus vos: benedicite, et nolite maledicere.

Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Bestow a blessing on those who persecute you; a blessing, not a curse.

Gaudere cum gaudentibus, flere cum flentibus:

Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with the mourner.

idipsum invicem sentientes: non alta sapientes, sed humilibus consentientes. Nolite esse prudentes apud vosmetipsos:

Being of one mind one towards another. Not minding high things, but consenting to the humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Live in harmony of mind, falling in with the opinions of common folk, instead of following conceited thoughts; never give yourselves airs of wisdom.

nulli malum pro malo reddentes: providentes bona non tantum coram Deo, sed etiam coram omnibus hominibus.

To no man rendering evil for evil. Providing good things, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men.

Do not repay injury with injury; study your behaviour in the world’s sight as well as in God’s.

Si fieri potest, quod ex vobis est, cum omnibus hominibus pacem habentes:

If it be possible, as much as is in you, have peace with all men.

Keep peace with all men, where it is possible, for your part.

non vosmetipsos defendentes carissimi, sed date locum iræ. Scriptum est enim: Mihi vindicta: ego retribuam, dicit Dominus.

Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath, for it is written: Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.

Do not avenge yourselves, beloved; allow retribution to run its course; so we read in scripture, Vengeance is for me, I will repay, says the Lord.

Sed si esurierit inimicus tuus, ciba illum: si sitit, potum da illi: hoc enim faciens, carbones ignis congeres super caput ejus.

But if the enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink. For, doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

Rather, feed thy enemy if he is hungry, give him drink if he is thirsty; by doing this, thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head.

Noli vinci a malo, sed vince in bono malum.

Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.

Do not be disarmed by malice; disarm malice with kindness.