¹⁶ If the first portion of the dough is holy, the batch is also holy. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the root and richness of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast against the branches. If you boast, remember you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “The branches were broken off, so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ This is correct. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you.

²² Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God—severity toward those who fell, but goodness toward you, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ²³ And these also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?