13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Therefore insofar as (A)I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 if somehow I may (B)move (C)my [a]own people to jealousy and (D)save some of them. 15 For if their rejection proves to be the (E)reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but (F)life from the dead? 16 If the (G)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 (H)branches were broken off, and (I)you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the [b]rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that (J)it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 (K)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 (L)stand by your faith. (M)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 (N)kindness, (O)if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too (P)will be cut off. 23 And they also, (Q)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 (R)I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this (S)mystery—so that you will not be (T)wise in your own estimation—that a partial (U)hardening has happened to Israel until the (V)fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written:

(W)The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 (X)This is [c]My covenant with them,
(Y)When I take away their sins.”

28 In relation to the gospel they are (Z)enemies on your account, but in relation to God’s choice they are beloved (AA)on account of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the (AB)calling of God (AC)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 (AD)God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.

33 Oh, the depth of (AE)the riches, [d]both of the (AF)wisdom and knowledge of God! (AG)How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For (AH)who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or (AI)who has first given to Him, [e]that it would be paid back to him? 36 For (AJ)from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. (AK)To Him be the glory [f]forever. Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:14 Lit flesh
  2. Romans 11:17 Lit root of the fatness
  3. Romans 11:27 Lit the covenant from Me
  4. Romans 11:33 Or and the wisdom
  5. Romans 11:35 Lit and it will be paid back
  6. Romans 11:36 Lit to the ages

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[a] 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,[b] 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,[c]
    and he will turn Israel[d] away from ungodliness.
27 And this is my covenant with them,
    that I will take away their sins.”[e]

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[f] 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?[g]
35 And who has given him so much
    that he needs to pay it back?[h]

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

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Footnotes

  1. 11:21 Some manuscripts read perhaps he won’t.
  2. 11:25 Greek brothers.
  3. 11:26a Greek from Zion.
  4. 11:26b Greek Jacob.
  5. 11:26-27 Isa 59:20-21; 27:9 (Greek version).
  6. 11:31 Other manuscripts read will now share; still others read will someday share.
  7. 11:34 Isa 40:13 (Greek version).
  8. 11:35 See Job 41:11.