18 They know nothing, they understand(A) nothing;
    their eyes(B) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding(C) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(D)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(E) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(F)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(G) a deluded(H) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(I)

21 “Remember(J) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.(K)
I have made you, you are my servant;(L)
    Israel, I will not forget you.(M)
22 I have swept away(N) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return(O) to me,
    for I have redeemed(P) you.”

23 Sing for joy,(Q) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth(R) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,(S)
    you forests and all your trees,(T)
for the Lord has redeemed(U) Jacob,
    he displays his glory(V) in Israel.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

24 “This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(W) who formed(X) you in the womb:(Y)

I am the Lord,
    the Maker of all things,
    who stretches out the heavens,(Z)
    who spreads out the earth(AA) by myself,
25 who foils(AB) the signs of false prophets
    and makes fools of diviners,(AC)
who overthrows the learning of the wise(AD)
    and turns it into nonsense,(AE)
26 who carries out the words(AF) of his servants
    and fulfills(AG) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,(AH) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,(AI) ‘I will restore them,’(AJ)
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
    and I will dry up(AK) your streams,’
28 who says of Cyrus,(AL) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,(AM) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,(AN) “Let its foundations(AO) be laid.”’

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18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

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17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.(A) Keep away from them.(B) 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,(C) but their own appetites.(D) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive(E) the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard(F) about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.(G)

20 The God of peace(H) will soon crush(I) Satan(J) under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.(K)

21 Timothy,(L) my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius,(M) Jason(N) and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.(O)

22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius,(P) whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus,(Q) who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. [24] [a]

25 Now to him who is able(R) to establish you in accordance with my gospel,(S) the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery(T) hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings(U) by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from[b] faith(V) 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 16:24 Some manuscripts include here May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.
  2. Romans 16:26 Or that is

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

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