Old/New Testament
19 Then you will say, `The branches were broken off so that I might be joined to the tree.'
20 That is true. They were broken off because they did not believe. And you have your place only because you believe. So do not be proud, but fear.
21 If God punished the tree's own branches, he will punish you also.
22 See how kind God is. And see how hard he is. He is hard on those who have fallen. But God is kind to you if you go on following in his ways. If you do not, you also will be broken off.
23 God will also put back the other branches if they believe. God is able to put the Jews back where they belong.
24 You were cut off from a wild olive tree. And you were put on a good olive tree. That is not the way trees grow. But it can be done. And so, even more, the Jewish branches will be put back on their own olive tree.
25 My brothers, I want you to know something that has been a secret. Then you will not be proud of yourselves. The secret is this. Some Jews will have hard hearts until the right number of other people have come in.
26 Then all the Jews will be saved. The holy writings say, `Someone will come from Zion to save people. He will take away the wrong ways of our father Jacob.'
27 This will be my agreement with them when I take away the wrong things they have done.
28 The Jews make themselves enemies of God because they do not want the good news of Jesus Christ. That helps you since the good news has then come to you. But God still loves the Jews because of the promise he made to their fathers long ago.
29 God does not change his gifts or his call to people.
30 At one time you did not obey God. But now he has been kind to you because the Jews did not obey him.
31 So now, they also have not obeyed him. But he will also be kind to them because he was kind to you.
32 God allowed people to disobey him. He did it so that he might be kind and forgive all people.
33 God is very kind. He is very wise. He knows much. No one can understand why he judges the way he does. No one can find out why he does the things he does.
34 The holy writings say, `Who has known what the Lord thinks? Who has ever told him what to do?
35 Who has given a gift to God first, so that God would give him something also?'
36 All things come from God, through God, and return to God. Praise him for ever! Yes, it is so!
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