Romans 8:26-39
King James Version
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Romans 8:26-39
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
The Spirit Groans To Help Us In Our Present Weakness
26 And similarly also[a] the Spirit helps our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought-to, but the Spirit Himself intercedes-for us with inexpressible[b] groanings. 27 And the One searching our hearts knows[c] what the mind of the Spirit is, because He is interceding for the saints in accordance with God.
This Means God Is Working All Things Together Toward Our Glorification
28 And we know that all things are[d] working-together[e] for good for the ones loving God, the ones being called ones according to His purpose[f]. 29 Because whom He foreknew[g], He also predestined[h] to be similar-to-the-form of the image[i] of His Son, so that He might be firstborn[j] among many brothers. 30 And whom He predestined, these He also called[k]. And whom He called, these He also declared-righteous. And whom He declared righteous, these He also glorified[l].
So What Shall We Say To All This? If God Is For Us, Who Will Condemn Us?
31 Therefore, what shall we say to these things? If [m] God is for us, who is against us? 32 He Who indeed did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely-give[n] us all things? 33 Who will bring-a-charge against the chosen[o] ones of God? God is the One declaring-righteous! 34 Who is the one who will condemn[p]? Christ Jesus is the One having died, but more, having been raised, Who also is at the right hand of God, Who also intercedes[q] for us!
Nothing Can Separate Us From Christ’s Love; We Are Conquerors Through Him
35 What[r] shall separate us from the love of Christ? Affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 Just as it has been written [in Ps 44:22] that “For your sake we are being put-to-death the whole day. We were considered as sheep for slaughter”. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly-conquer[s] through the One having loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present[t] nor things coming, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other creation[u] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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- Romans 8:26 Or, indeed.
- Romans 8:26 That is, unspoken, wordless; or, unspeakable, inexpressible, too deep for words.
- Romans 8:27 That is, knows in the sense of approves of, recognizes with approval, takes interest in; or, understands.
- Romans 8:28 Or, that He is working all things together for good; or, that in all things, He joins in working for good.
- Romans 8:28 Or, cooperating, helping, assisting.
- Romans 8:28 Or. plan, design, resolve.
- Romans 8:29 Or, knew beforehand, had advance knowledge of. Some think this knowledge is with reference to their actions and choices; others, that He ‘knew’ them in the sense of ‘had regard for, loved, took interest in’ them.
- Romans 8:29 Or, preappointed, predesignated.
- Romans 8:29 Or, likeness.
- Romans 8:29 That is, preeminent, first in rank, the supreme One.
- Romans 8:30 Or, summoned.
- Romans 8:30 Paul puts this in the past tense, as something already certain.
- Romans 8:31 That is, If as is the case.
- Romans 8:32 Or, graciously-grant.
- Romans 8:33 Or, elect, selected.
- Romans 8:34 Or, who is the one condemning?
- Romans 8:34 Or, petitions, appeals. Same word as in v 27.
- Romans 8:35 Or, Who.
- Romans 8:37 Or, are completely-victorious.
- Romans 8:38 Lit, being present; or, having come.
- Romans 8:39 Or creature, created thing.
Romans 8:26-39
English Standard Version
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For (A)we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but (B)the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And (C)he who searches hearts knows what is (D)the mind of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit (E)intercedes for the saints (F)according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together (G)for good,[b] for (H)those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he (I)foreknew he also (J)predestined (K)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be (L)the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also (M)justified, and those whom he justified he also (N)glorified.
God's Everlasting Love
31 What then shall we say to these things? (O)If God is for us, who can be[c] against us? 32 (P)He who did not spare his own Son but (Q)gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? (R)It is God who justifies. 34 (S)Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—(T)who is at the right hand of God, (U)who indeed is interceding for us.[d] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
(V)“For your sake (W)we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than (X)conquerors through (Y)him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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- Romans 8:27 Or that
- Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good
- Romans 8:31 Or who is
- Romans 8:34 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died… for us?
Romans 8:26-39
The Message
26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
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Romans 8:26-39
Good News Translation
26 In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. 27 And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will.
28 We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him,[a] those whom he has called according to his purpose. 29 Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers. 30 And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them.
God's Love in Christ Jesus
31 In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son—will he not also freely give us all things? 33 Who will accuse God's chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty! 34 Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us! 35 Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? 36 (A)As the scripture says,
“For your sake we are in danger of death at all times;
we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
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- Romans 8:28 in all things God works for good with those who love him; some manuscripts have all things work for good for those who love God.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
