Life in God's Service
1 So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
3 And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. 4 We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. 5 In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. 6 So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; 7 if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; 8 if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. 10 Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. 11 Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. 12 Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. 13 Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
14 Ask God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. 16 Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.
17 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 18 Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. 19 Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” 20 Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” 21 Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.
Ori Ruindu Lu roya
1 Ka'do inye, ädrupii maro tana ta yauni para Lu ro ämäri rota, ma rulo'ba ämiri: Nyozo andivo amiro ŋga lidriidriro oloro ronye Lu ri, alokado ago tana ri ugu nda usine usi, ono ni mätu se endaro ämiri ozone owo. 2 Mi'ba taoye andivo amiro ro ko tadriolene taoye 'bädri ono robe, oko mi'ba Lu kotoza ami le ya ya tauni drî amiro ro tozana si kpeye. 'Dooko nyà'dona ndi mbara be ole Lu ro unine, ŋgase orivoya kado ago tana kusi nda be ago orivoya wäṛiro.
3 Ago ta yauni se Lu kozobe märi rota ma ata ami cini ri: Nyusutavo ta andivo amiro ro ko ndrani se beṛo ämiri usune ri. Oko nyà'do ŋgo'bo tavousu amiro ya ago mipe vure andivo amiro ro oso a'do taoma ro se Lu kozobe ämiri ro voro. 4 Ama orivoya ŋga amba be lomvo alodi ya, ago ŋgase cini kwoi kayi losi toto oye. 5 Kpa oso inye, ama ca orivoya amba, ama orivoya lomvo alodi yi rudro'be Kristo be si, ago odro'be ama cini te azi be oso ŋga lomvo ro toto lomvo alo ro ronye. 6 Ka'do inye, ämäri losi oyene ŋgapäṛi se toto Lu kozobe ämäri tai'dwero ndaro si ono voro. Ondro ka'do ŋgapäṛi amaro orivoya ata Lu ro ope, beṛo ämäri oyene taoma se ama be sina si; 7 ondro orivoya ruinduza, beṛo ämäri ruindune; ondro orivoya ŋgaembaza, beṛo ämäri ŋgaembane; 8 ondro orivoya agoago ozoza azii ri, beṛo ämäri oyene inye. Nda se kabe ŋga la'do azii be beṛo oyene ŋgalu si; nda se drikaca be beṛo losi oyene mbarasi; nda se kabe takado oye azii ri beṛo oyene riyä si.
9 Beṛo ŋgalu ri cu a'done kadoro. Ya amiro koso ŋgakozi lomvo. Nyelebe tase kadoro lomvo. 10 Nyulu azi kadoro Kristo'ba ädrupi ro ronye, nyà'do nja taoro ka'dane azi ri. 11 Mìye losi mbarasi ago nyà'do ko tovo ro. Nyinduru Opi ri ya ŋgalu amba be si. 12 Mio'ba amiro ko'ba ami riyäro, nyà'do yaiŋgyi be rriti amiro ya, ago nyämätu tu cini si. 13 Nyàla'do ŋga amiro Kristo'ba azi amiro lemeri be be, ago miru atrai 'bai amiro ya.
14 Nyeji Lu ànya se kabe ami eza ta, nyeji nda ànya äṛune äṛu ko otrine otri. 15 Nyà'do yai'dwesi ànya se yai'dwesi be, nyili ànya se kabe liyi be. 16 Mìri azi be ya alo si. Nyà'do ko driuŋgyi be, oko nyologo ami vuru kamà se vuru oyene, nyusutavo ko mikye iyi tavouni'bai.
17 Ondro 'diaza koye takozi te miri, nyologo votaro ko ndäri takozi oyesi. Nyojo tase 'dicini kabe ondrena a'done kadoro 'do oyene ayani. 18 Miye ŋga cini se kogobe mi resi se o'bana mi ndi orine rritiako liatokpero 'dicini be iyi ayani. 19 Nyòlogo vo takozi ro ko alona, bereazii maro, oko mì'ba kyila Lu ro kologo vona ni. Tana taegyi atate ekye: “Mologona votaro ni, mologona 'da, Opi kani ata nonye.” 20 Oko oso taegyi katabe ronye ekye: “Ondro kyila'baazi miro orivoya täbiri ro, nyozo ŋgaonya ndäri, ondro nda orivoya gyilu be nyozo umvune ndäri, tana ugu tase ono oyene si mi'bana nda ndi a'done driupiro.” 21 Mi'ba takozi kope mi ko ṛe; oko mipe takozi ayani takado si.