10 Frères et sœurs, je souhaite de tout cœur que les Israélites soient sauvés, et c’est ce que je demande instamment à Dieu dans mes prières. Car je leur rends ce témoignage : ils ont un zèle ardent pour Dieu, mais il leur manque le discernement. En méconnaissant la manière dont Dieu déclare les hommes justes et en cherchant à être déclarés justes par leurs propres moyens, ils ne se sont pas soumis à Dieu en acceptant le moyen par lequel il nous déclare justes. Car Christ a mis fin au régime de la Loi pour que tous ceux qui croient soient déclarés justes.

Voici, en effet, comment Moïse définit la justice qui procède de la Loi : Celui qui appliquera ces commandements vivra grâce à cela[a]. Mais voici comment s’exprime la justice reçue par la foi : Ne dis pas en toi-même[b] : Qui montera au ciel ? C’est en faire descendre Christ ? Ou bien : Qui descendra dans l’abîme ? C’est faire remonter Christ d’entre les morts ? Que dit-elle donc ?

La parole est toute proche de toi, elle est dans ta bouche et dans ton cœur[c] .

Cette parole est celle de la foi, et c’est celle que nous annonçons.

En effet, si de ta bouche, tu déclares que Jésus est Seigneur et si dans ton cœur, tu crois que Dieu l’a ressuscité, tu seras sauvé, 10 car celui qui croit dans son cœur, Dieu le déclare juste ; celui qui affirme de sa bouche, Dieu le sauve.

11 En effet, l’Ecriture dit :

Celui qui met en lui sa confiancene connaîtra jamais le déshonneur[d].

12 Ainsi, il n’y a pas de différence entre Juifs et non-Juifs. Car tous ont le même Seigneur qui donne généreusement à tous ceux qui font appel à lui. En effet, il est écrit : 13 Tous ceux qui invoqueront le Seigneur seront sauvés[e].

Israël n’a pas eu la foi

14 Mais comment feront-ils appel à lui s’ils n’ont pas cru en lui ? Et comment croiront-ils en lui s’ils ne l’ont pas entendu[f] ? Et comment entendront-ils s’il n’y a personne pour le leur annoncer ? 15 Et comment y aura-t-il des gens pour l’annoncer s’ils ne sont pas envoyés ? Aussi est-il dit dans l’Ecriture :

Qu’ils sont beauxles pas de ceux qui annoncentde bonnes nouvelles[g]!

16 Mais, malheureusement, tous n’ont pas obéi à cette Bonne Nouvelle. Esaïe déjà demandait : Seigneur, qui a cru à notre message[h]?

17 Donc, la foi naît du message que l’on entend, et ce message vient par la parole de Christ.

18 Maintenant donc je dis : Ne l’ont-ils pas entendu ? Mais si ! N’est-il pas écrit :

Leur voix a retenti par toute la terre.
Leurs paroles sont parvenuesjusqu’aux confins du monde[i] ?

19 Je demande alors : Le peuple d’Israël ne l’a-t-il pas su ? Moïse a été le premier à le leur dire :

Je vous rendrai jalouxde ceux qui ne sont pas un peuple.
Je vous irriteraipar une nation dépourvue d’intelligence[j].

20 Esaïe pousse même la hardiesse jusqu’à dire :

J’ai été trouvépar ceux qui ne me cherchaient pas,
Je me suis révéléà ceux qui ne se souciaient pas de moi[k].

21 Mais parlant d’Israël, il dit :

A longueur de journée,j’ai tendu les mainsvers un peuple désobéissant et rebelle[l].

Footnotes

  1. 10.5 Lv 18.5.
  2. 10.6 Dt 8.17 ; 9.4.
  3. 10.8 Dt 30.12-14.
  4. 10.11 Es 28.16 cité selon l’ancienne version grecque.
  5. 10.13 Jl 3.5.
  6. 10.14 Autre traduction : s’ils ne l’entendent pas ?
  7. 10.15 Es 52.7.
  8. 10.16 Es 53.1 cité selon l’ancienne version grecque.
  9. 10.18 Ps 19.5 cité selon l’ancienne version grecque.
  10. 10.19 Dt 32.21.
  11. 10.20 Es 65.1 cité selon l’ancienne version grecque.
  12. 10.21 Es 65.2 cité selon l’ancienne version grecque.

10 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

The Person who Believes will be Saved

10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God about the Jews[a] is that they would be saved. For I can testify on their behalf that they have a zeal for God, but it is not in keeping with full knowledge. For they are ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God while they try to establish their own, and they have not submitted to God’s means to attain[b] righteousness. For the Messiah[c] is the culmination[d] of the Law as far as righteousness is concerned for everyone who believes.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the Law as follows: “The person who obeys these things will find life by them.”[e] But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (that is, to bring the Messiah[f] down), or ‘Who will go down into the depths?’ (that is, to bring the Messiah[g] back from the dead).”

But what does it say? “The message is near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart.”[h] This is the message about faith that we are proclaiming: If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with his heart and is justified, and declares with his mouth and is saved. 11 The Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will never be ashamed.”[i] 12 There is no difference between Jew and Greek, because they all have the same Lord, who gives richly to all who call on him. 13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord[j] will be saved.”[k]

14 How, then, can people[l] call on someone they have not believed? And how can they believe in someone they have not heard about? And how can they hear without someone preaching? 15 And how can people[m] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are[n] those who bring the good news!”[o] 16 But not everyone has obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah asks, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[p] 17 Consequently, faith results from listening, and listening results through the word of the Messiah.[q]

18 But I ask, “Didn’t they hear?” Certainly they did! In fact,

“Their voice has gone out into the whole world,
    and their words to the ends of the earth.”[r]

19 Again I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” Moses was the first to say,

“I will make you jealous
    by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry
    by a nation that doesn’t understand.”[s]

20 And Isaiah boldly says,

“I was found by those who were not looking for me;
    I was revealed to those who were not asking for me.”[t]

21 But about Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands
    to a disobedient and rebellious people.”[u]

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:1 Lit. on behalf of them
  2. Romans 10:3 The Gk. lacks means to attain
  3. Romans 10:4 Or Christ
  4. Romans 10:4 Or end
  5. Romans 10:5 Lev 18:5
  6. Romans 10:6 Or Christ
  7. Romans 10:7 Or Christ
  8. Romans 10:8 Cf. Deut 9:4; 30:12-14
  9. Romans 10:11 Isa 28:16
  10. Romans 10:13 MT source citation reads Lord
  11. Romans 10:13 Cf. Joel 2:32
  12. Romans 10:14 Lit. they
  13. Romans 10:15 Lit. they
  14. Romans 10:15 Lit. are the feet of
  15. Romans 10:15 Isa 52:7
  16. Romans 10:16 Isa 53:1
  17. Romans 10:17 Or Christ; other mss. read of God
  18. Romans 10:18 Cf. Ps 19:4
  19. Romans 10:19 Cf. Deut 32:21
  20. Romans 10:20 Cf. Isa 65:1
  21. Romans 10:21 Cf. Isa 65:2 (LXX)