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Romans 11:19-36
Contemporary English Version
Romans 11:19-36
Contemporary English Version
19 Maybe you think those branches were cut away, so you could be put in their place. 20 That's true enough. But they were cut away because they did not have faith, and you are where you are because you do have faith. So don't be proud, but be afraid. 21 If God cut away those natural branches, couldn't he do the same to you?
22 Now you see both how kind and how hard God can be. He was hard on those who fell, but he was kind to you. And he will keep on being kind to you, if you keep on trusting in his kindness. Otherwise, you will be cut away too.
23 If those other branches will start having faith, they will be made a part of that tree again. God has the power to put them back. 24 After all, it wasn't natural for branches to be cut from a wild olive tree and to be made part of a cultivated olive tree. So it is much more likely that God will join the natural branches back to the cultivated olive tree.
The People of Israel Will Be Brought Back
25 My friends, I don't want you Gentiles to be too proud of yourselves. So I will explain the mystery of what has happened to the people of Israel. Some of them have become stubborn, and they will stay like that until the complete number of you Gentiles has come in. 26 (A) In this way all of Israel will be saved, as the Scriptures say,
“From Zion someone will come
to rescue us.
Then Jacob's descendants
will stop being evil.
27 (B) This is what the Lord
has promised to do
when he forgives their sins.”
28 The people of Israel are treated as God's enemies, so the good news can come to you Gentiles. But they are still the chosen ones, and God loves them because of their famous ancestors. 29 God doesn't take back the gifts he has given or disown the people he has chosen.
30 At one time you Gentiles rejected God. But now Israel has rejected God, and you have been shown mercy. 31 And because of the mercy shown to you, they will also be shown mercy. 32 All people have disobeyed God, and that's why he treats them as prisoners. But he does this, so that he can have mercy on all of them.
33 (C) Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does?
34 (D) “Has anyone known
the thoughts of the Lord
or given him advice?
35 (E) Has anyone loaned
something to the Lord
that must be repaid?”
36 (F) Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever! Amen.
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Romans 11:19-36
New International Version
Romans 11:19-36
New International Version
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.(A) Do not be arrogant,(B) but tremble.(C) 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness(D) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue(E) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.(F) 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.(G) 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,(H) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
All Israel Will Be Saved
25 I do not want you to be ignorant(I) of this mystery,(J) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:(K) Israel has experienced a hardening(L) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,(M) 26 and in this way[a] all Israel will be saved.(N) As it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[b] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”[c](O)
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies(P) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,(Q) 29 for God’s gifts and his call(R) are irrevocable.(S) 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient(T) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[d] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience(U) so that he may have mercy on them all.
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches(V) of the wisdom and[e] knowledge of God!(W)
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!(X)
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”[f](Y)
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”[g](Z)
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.(AA)
To him be the glory forever! Amen.(AB)
Footnotes
- Romans 11:26 Or and so
- Romans 11:27 Or will be
- Romans 11:27 Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jer. 31:33,34
- Romans 11:31 Some manuscripts do not have now.
- Romans 11:33 Or riches and the wisdom and the
- Romans 11:34 Isaiah 40:13
- Romans 11:35 Job 41:11
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