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Romans 9-12
New Living Translation

God’s Selection of Israel

9 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters.[a] I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. 4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children.[b] God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. 5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.[c]

6 Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! 7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,”[d] though Abraham had other children, too. 8 This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. 9 For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”[e]

10 This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins.[f] 11 But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; 12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.”[g] 13 In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”[h]

14 Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! 15 For God said to Moses,

“I will show mercy to anyone I choose,
    and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”[i]

16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”[j] 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”

20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.

25 Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,

“Those who were not my people,
    I will now call my people.
And I will love those
    whom I did not love before.”[k]

26 And,

“Then, at the place where they were told,
    ‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called
    ‘children of the living God.’”[l]

27 And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,

“Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore,
    only a remnant will be saved.
28 For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth
    quickly and with finality.”[m]

29 And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:

“If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    had not spared a few of our children,
we would have been wiped out like Sodom,
    destroyed like Gomorrah.”[n]

Israel’s Unbelief

30 What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law[o] instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,

“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem[p] that makes people stumble,
    a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”[q]

10 Dear brothers and sisters,[r] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[s] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Salvation Is for Everyone

5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.[t] 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,

“The message is very close at hand;
    it is on your lips and in your heart.”[u]

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[v] 12 Jew and Gentile[w] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[x]

14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”[y]

16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[z] 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:

“The message has gone throughout the earth,
    and the words to all the world.”[aa]

19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,

“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.
    I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”[ab]

20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,

“I was found by people who were not looking for me.
    I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”[ac]

21 But regarding Israel, God said,

“All day long I opened my arms to them,
    but they were disobedient and rebellious.”[ad]

God’s Mercy on Israel

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”[ae]

4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”[af]

5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel[ag] have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say,

“God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
    and closed their ears so they do not hear.”[ah]

9 Likewise, David said,

“Let their bountiful table become a snare,
    a trap that makes them think all is well.
Let their blessings cause them to stumble,
    and let them get what they deserve.
10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
    and let their backs be bent forever.”[ai]

11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, 14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. 15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! 16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t[aj] spare you either.

22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. 23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. 24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.

God’s Mercy Is for Everyone

25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters,[ak] so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. 26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,

“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,[al]
    and he will turn Israel[am] away from ungodliness.
27 And this is my covenant with them,
    that I will take away their sins.”[an]

28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. 30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. 31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share[ao] in God’s mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to give him advice?[ap]
35 And who has given him so much
    that he needs to pay it back?[aq]

36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

A Living Sacrifice to God

12 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[ar] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[as] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3 Because of the privilege and authority[at] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.[au] 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[av] and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[aw] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
    I will pay them back,”[ax]
    says the Lord.

20 Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.”[ay]

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Footnotes

  1. 9:3 Greek my brothers.
  2. 9:4 Greek chosen for sonship.
  3. 9:5 Or May God, the one who rules over everything, be praised forever. Amen.
  4. 9:7 Gen 21:12.
  5. 9:9 Gen 18:10, 14.
  6. 9:10 Greek she conceived children through this one man.
  7. 9:12 Gen 25:23.
  8. 9:13 Mal 1:2-3.
  9. 9:15 Exod 33:19.
  10. 9:17 Exod 9:16 (Greek version).
  11. 9:25 Hos 2:23.
  12. 9:26 Greek sons of the living God. Hos 1:10.
  13. 9:27-28 Isa 10:22-23 (Greek version).
  14. 9:29 Isa 1:9 (Greek version).
  15. 9:32 Greek by works.
  16. 9:33a Greek in Zion.
  17. 9:33b Isa 8:14; 28:16 (Greek version).
  18. 10:1 Greek Brothers.
  19. 10:4 Or For Christ is the end of the law.
  20. 10:5 See Lev 18:5.
  21. 10:6-8 Deut 30:12-14.
  22. 10:11 Isa 28:16 (Greek version).
  23. 10:12 Greek and Greek.
  24. 10:13 Joel 2:32.
  25. 10:15 Isa 52:7.
  26. 10:16 Isa 53:1.
  27. 10:18 Ps 19:4.
  28. 10:19 Deut 32:21.
  29. 10:20 Isa 65:1 (Greek version).
  30. 10:21 Isa 65:2 (Greek version).
  31. 11:3 1 Kgs 19:10, 14.
  32. 11:4 1 Kgs 19:18.
  33. 11:5 Greek for a remnant.
  34. 11:8 Isa 29:10; Deut 29:4.
  35. 11:9-10 Ps 69:22-23 (Greek version).
  36. 11:21 Some manuscripts read perhaps he won’t.
  37. 11:25 Greek brothers.
  38. 11:26a Greek from Zion.
  39. 11:26b Greek Jacob.
  40. 11:26-27 Isa 59:20-21; 27:9 (Greek version).
  41. 11:31 Other manuscripts read will now share; still others read will someday share.
  42. 11:34 Isa 40:13 (Greek version).
  43. 11:35 See Job 41:11.
  44. 12:1a Greek brothers.
  45. 12:1b Or This is your spiritual worship; or This is your reasonable service.
  46. 12:3a Or Because of the grace; compare 1:5.
  47. 12:3b Or by the faith God has given you; or by the standard of our God-given faith.
  48. 12:10 Greek with brotherly love.
  49. 12:11 Or but serve the Lord with a zealous spirit; or but let the Spirit excite you as you serve the Lord.
  50. 12:19 Deut 32:35.
  51. 12:20 Prov 25:21-22.
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Romans 9-12
New American Standard Bible

Deep Concern for Israel

9 (A)I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For (B)I could [a]wish that I myself were (C)accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my countrymen, my kinsmen (D)according to the flesh, 4 who are (E)Israelites, to whom belongs (F)the adoption as sons and daughters, (G)the glory, (H)the covenants, (I)the giving of the Law, (J)the temple service, and (K)the promises; 5 whose are (L)the fathers, and (M)from whom is the [b]Christ according to the flesh, (N)who is over all, (O)God (P)blessed [c]forever. Amen.

6 But it is not as though (Q)the word of God has failed. (R)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children (S)because they are Abraham’s [d](T)descendants, but: “[e](U)through Isaac your [f]descendants shall be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh [g]who are (V)children of God, but the (W)children of the promise are regarded as [h](X)descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: “(Y)At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” 10 (Z)And not only that, but there was also (AA)Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that (AB)God’s purpose according to His choice would [i]stand, not [j]because of works but [k]because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “(AC)The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “(AD)Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

14 (AE)What shall we say then? (AF)There is no injustice with God, is there? [l](AG)Far from it! 15 For He says to Moses, “(AH)I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.” 16 So then, it does not depend on the person who [m]wants it nor the one who [n](AI)runs, but on (AJ)God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “(AK)For this very reason I raised you up, in order to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed [o]throughout the earth.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He (AL)hardens whom He desires.

19 (AM)You will say to me then, “(AN)Why does He still find fault? For (AO)who has resisted His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, [p](AP)you foolish person, who (AQ)answers back to God? (AR)The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? 21 Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object [q]for honorable use, and another [r]for common use? 22 [s]What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great (AS)patience objects of wrath (AT)prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known (AU)the riches of His glory upon (AV)objects of mercy, which He (AW)prepared beforehand for glory, 24 namely us, whom He also (AX)called, (AY)not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles, 25 as He also says in Hosea:

“(AZ)I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’
And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’”
26 “(BA)And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of (BB)the living God.”

27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “(BC)Though the number of the sons of Israel may be (BD)like the sand of the sea, only (BE)the remnant will be saved; 28 (BF)for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, [t]thoroughly and [u]quickly.” 29 And just as Isaiah foretold:

“(BG)If (BH)the Lord [v]of armies had not left us [w](BI)descendants,
(BJ)We would have become like Sodom, and would have [x]been like Gomorrah.”

30 (BK)What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but (BL)the righteousness that is [y]by faith; 31 however, Israel, (BM)pursuing a law of righteousness, did not (BN)arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it [z]by faith, but as though they could [aa]by works. They stumbled over (BO)the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written:

“(BP)Behold, I am laying in Zion (BQ)a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,
(BR)And the one who believes in Him (BS)will not be [ab]put to shame.”

The Word of Faith Brings Salvation

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have (BT)a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about (BU)God’s righteousness and (BV)seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For (BW)Christ is the [ac]end of the Law for righteousness to (BX)everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes of the righteousness that is [ad]based on the Law, that the person who performs [ae]them (BY)will live by [af]them. 6 But (BZ)the righteousness [ag]based on faith speaks as follows: “(CA)Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the (CB)abyss?’ (that is, to (CC)bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “(CD)The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 [ah]that (CE)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and (CF)believe in your heart that (CG)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [ai]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [aj]resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “(CH)Whoever believes in Him will not be [ak]put to shame.” 12 For (CI)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is (CJ)Lord of (CK)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “(CL)Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him (CM)whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without (CN)a preacher? 15 But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “(CO)How beautiful are the feet of those who [al](CP)bring good news of good things!”

16 However, they (CQ)did not all heed the [am]good news; for Isaiah says, “(CR)Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from (CS)hearing, and hearing by (CT)the word [an]of Christ.

18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? On the contrary:

“(CU)Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the [ao]world.”

19 But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says,

“(CV)I will (CW)make you jealous with those who are not a nation,
With a foolish nation I will anger you.”

20 And Isaiah is very bold and says,

“(CX)I was found by those who did not seek Me,
I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”

21 But as for Israel, He says, “(CY)I have spread out My hands all day long to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Israel Has Not Been Rejected

11 I say then, God has not (CZ)rejected His people, has He? [ap](DA)Far from it! For (DB)I too am an Israelite, [aq]a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God (DC)has not rejected His people whom He (DD)foreknew. (DE)Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, (DF)they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what [ar]is the divine response to him? “(DG)I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time (DH)a remnant according to God’s [as]gracious choice. 6 But (DI)if it is by grace, it is no longer [at]on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.

7 What then? What (DJ)Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but [au]those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were (DK)hardened; 8 just as it is written:

“(DL)God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”

9 And David says,

“(DM)May their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 (DN)May their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs continually.”

11 (DO)I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? [av](DP)Far from it! But by their wrongdoing (DQ)salvation has come to the Gentiles, to (DR)make them jealous. 12 Now if their wrongdoing proves to be riches for the world, and their failure, riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their [aw](DS)fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as (DT)I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 if somehow I may (DU)move (DV)my [ax]own people to jealousy and (DW)save some of them. 15 For if their rejection proves to be the (DX)reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but (DY)life from the dead? 16 If the (DZ)first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.

17 But if some of the (EA)branches were broken off, and (EB)you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the [ay]rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that (EC)it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 (ED)You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you (EE)stand by your faith. (EF)Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s (EG)kindness, (EH)if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too (EI)will be cut off. 23 And they also, (EJ)if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For (EK)I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this (EL)mystery—so that you will not be (EM)wise in your own estimation—that a partial (EN)hardening has happened to Israel until the (EO)fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written:

“(EP)The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “(EQ)This is [az]My covenant with them,
(ER)When I take away their sins.”

28 In relation to the gospel they are (ES)enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved (ET)on account of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the (EU)calling of God (EV)are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For (EW)God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.

33 Oh, the depth of (EX)the riches, [ba]both of the (EY)wisdom and knowledge of God! (EZ)How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For (FA)who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or (FB)who has first given to Him, [bb]that it would be paid back to him? 36 For (FC)from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. (FD)To Him be the glory [bc]forever. Amen.

Dedicated Service

12 Therefore (FE)I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to (FF)present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, [bd]acceptable to God, which is your [be]spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not (FG)be conformed to (FH)this [bf]world, but be transformed by the (FI)renewing of your mind, so that you may [bg](FJ)prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [bh]acceptable and perfect.

3 For through (FK)the grace given to me I say to everyone among you (FL)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 (FM)each a measure of faith. 4 For (FN)just as we have many parts in one body and all [bi]the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, (FO)who are many, are (FP)one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. 6 However, since we have gifts that (FQ)differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if (FR)prophecy, [bj]in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if [bk](FS)service, in the act of serving; or the one who (FT)teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who [bl](FU)exhorts, in the work of [bm]exhortation; the one who gives, with [bn](FV)generosity; (FW)the one who [bo]is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with (FX)cheerfulness.

9 [bp](FY)Love must be free of hypocrisy. (FZ)Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be (GA)devoted to one another in brotherly love; [bq]give preference to one another (GB)in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, (GC)fervent in spirit, (GD)serving the Lord; 12 (GE)rejoicing in hope, (GF)persevering in tribulation, (GG)devoted to prayer, 13 (GH)contributing to the needs of the [br]saints, [bs](GI)practicing hospitality.

14 (GJ)Bless those who persecute [bt]you; bless and do not curse. 15 (GK)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 (GL)Be of the same mind toward one another; (GM)do not be [bu]haughty in mind, but [bv]associate with the lowly. (GN)Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 (GO)Never repay evil for evil to anyone. [bw](GP)Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, (GQ)so far as it depends on you, (GR)be at peace with all people. 19 (GS)Never take your own revenge, beloved, but [bx]leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “(GT)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “(GU)But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; 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.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:3 Lit pray
  2. Romans 9:5 I.e., Messiah
  3. Romans 9:5 Lit unto the ages
  4. Romans 9:7 Lit seed
  5. Romans 9:7 Lit in
  6. Romans 9:7 Lit seed
  7. Romans 9:8 Lit these
  8. Romans 9:8 Lit seed
  9. Romans 9:11 Lit remain
  10. Romans 9:11 Lit from
  11. Romans 9:11 Lit from
  12. Romans 9:14 Lit May it never happen!
  13. Romans 9:16 Or wills nor
  14. Romans 9:16 I.e., to win mercy or favor
  15. Romans 9:17 Lit in all
  16. Romans 9:20 Lit O
  17. Romans 9:21 Lit for honor
  18. Romans 9:21 Lit for dishonor
  19. Romans 9:22 Lit But
  20. Romans 9:28 Lit finishing it
  21. Romans 9:28 Lit cutting it short
  22. Romans 9:29 Gr sabaoth, for Heb tsebaoth (armies)
  23. Romans 9:29 Lit seed
  24. Romans 9:29 Lit been made like
  25. Romans 9:30 Lit out of
  26. Romans 9:32 Lit out of
  27. Romans 9:32 Lit out of
  28. Romans 9:33 Or disappointed
  29. Romans 10:4 Or goal
  30. Romans 10:5 Lit out of, from
  31. Romans 10:5 I.e., the statutes of the Law
  32. Romans 10:5 I.e., the statutes of the Law
  33. Romans 10:6 Lit out of, from
  34. Romans 10:9 Or because
  35. Romans 10:10 Lit to righteousness
  36. Romans 10:10 Lit to salvation
  37. Romans 10:11 Or disappointed
  38. Romans 10:15 Or preach the gospel
  39. Romans 10:16 Or gospel
  40. Romans 10:17 Or concerning Christ
  41. Romans 10:18 Or inhabited earth
  42. Romans 11:1 Lit May it never happen!
  43. Romans 11:1 Lit of the seed of Abraham
  44. Romans 11:4 Lit says
  45. Romans 11:5 Lit choice of grace
  46. Romans 11:6 Lit out of
  47. Romans 11:7 Lit the election
  48. Romans 11:11 Lit May it never happen!
  49. Romans 11:12 Or fullness
  50. Romans 11:14 Lit flesh
  51. Romans 11:17 Lit root of the fatness
  52. Romans 11:27 Lit the covenant from Me
  53. Romans 11:33 Or and the wisdom
  54. Romans 11:35 Lit and it will be paid back
  55. Romans 11:36 Lit to the ages
  56. Romans 12:1 Or pleasing
  57. Romans 12:1 I.e., in contrast to offering a literal sacrifice
  58. Romans 12:2 Or age
  59. Romans 12:2 Or discover
  60. Romans 12:2 Or pleasing
  61. Romans 12:4 Lit the parts
  62. Romans 12:6 Or in agreement with the faith
  63. Romans 12:7 Or office of service
  64. Romans 12:8 Or encourages
  65. Romans 12:8 Or encouragement
  66. Romans 12:8 Or sincere concern
  67. Romans 12:8 Or provides care
  68. Romans 12:9 Or Love has no
  69. Romans 12:10 Or outdo one another in showing honor
  70. Romans 12:13 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  71. Romans 12:13 Lit pursuing
  72. Romans 12:14 Two early mss do not contain you
  73. Romans 12:16 Or arrogant
  74. Romans 12:16 Or accommodate yourself to lowly things
  75. Romans 12:17 Lit Take thought for
  76. Romans 12:19 Lit give a place
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