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10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have (A)a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For not knowing about the (B)righteousness of God and (C)seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For (D)Christ is the [a]end of the law for righteousness to (E)everyone who believes.

Faith Comes by Hearing

For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of law: “(F)The man who does these things shall live by them.” But (G)the righteousness of faith speaks in this way: “(H)Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘Who will go down into the (I)abyss?’ (that is, to (J)bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “(K)The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, [b]that (L)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and (M)believe in your heart that (N)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [c]leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [d]leading to salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “(O)Whoever believes upon Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For (P)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is (Q)Lord of (R)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him, 13 for “(S)Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him (T)whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without (U)a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “(V)How beautiful are the feet of those who (W)proclaim good news of good things!”

16 However, they (X)did not all heed the [e]good news, for Isaiah says, “(Y)Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from (Z)hearing, and hearing by (AA)the word [f]of Christ.

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

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

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

(AC)I will (AD)make you jealous by that which is not a nation,
By a nation without understanding will I anger you.”

20 And Isaiah is very bold and says,

(AE)I was found by those who did not seek Me,
I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

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

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:4 Or goal
  2. Romans 10:9 Or because
  3. Romans 10:10 Lit to righteousness
  4. Romans 10:10 Lit to salvation
  5. Romans 10:16 Or gospel
  6. Romans 10:17 Or concerning Christ
  7. Romans 10:18 Or inhabited earth

The unfaithfulness of the Jews. Two kinds of righteousness.

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I can attest that they have a fervent heart for God, but not according to knowledge. For they are ignorant of the righteousness that is admitted before God, and go about to establish their own righteousness, and therefore give no heed to the righteousness that is of value before God. For Christ is the end of the law, to justify all who believe.

Moses describes the righteousness which comes of the law, how the person who does the things of the law will live therein. But the righteousness that comes by faith speaks this way: Say not in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (which is nothing else than to fetch Christ down), or, who shall descend into the deep? (which is nothing else than to fetch Christ up from death). But what does the scripture say? The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart. This word is the word of faith that we preach. For if you acknowledge with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe with your heart that God raised him up from death, you will be safe. 10 For the belief of the heart justifies, and to acknowledge with the mouth makes a man safe. 11 For the scripture says: Whoever believes on him, will not be ashamed.

12 There is no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles. For there is one Lord over all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For: Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 But how can people call on him on whom they have not believed? How can they believe on him, if they have not heard of him? How can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can men preach, unless they be sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

16 But they have not all hearkened to the gospel. For Isaiah says: Lord, who believes our message? 17 So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the word of God. 18But, I ask, have they not heard?  No doubt: Their sound went out into all lands, and their words into the ends of the world.

19 But I demand whether Israel did know, or not? First Moses says: I will provoke you to envy by those who are not a people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 Isaiah after that is bold and says: I am found by those who were not seeking me, and have appeared to those who were not asking for me. 21 And against Israel he says: All day long I have stretched out my hands to a people that does not believe, but speaks against me.