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¹ Paul, Jesus Christ's servant, called upon to be an apostle, separated for God's gospel.

² [The gospel] that he had promised by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came from the offspring of David (according to the flesh),

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⁴ but declared in power to be the Son of God (according to the spirit of holiness) by [his] resurrection from the dead.

⁵ [It is] through him we received grace and apostleship [to bring others] into obedience to the faith among all nations in behalf of his name.

⁶ You also are among those called by Jesus Christ.

⁷ Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ [be] to all of you who are in Rome, beloved by God, [and] called [to be] God's people.

⁸ First, I am grateful to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is spoken about throughout the whole world.

⁹ God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that I make mention of you unceasingly in my prayers.

¹⁰ Always in my prayers I ask if somehow I might now by the will of God have a successful journey to come to you.

¹¹ For I deeply desire to see you, so I can give to you some spiritual gift so you can be unshakable.

¹² That is, I can be comforted with you by the mutual faith of both yours and mine.

¹³ Now brethren I don't want you to be uninformed that many times I determined to come to you (but I have been hindered up to now), so that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

¹⁴ I am under obligation both to Greeks and Barbarians, both to the wise and the unwise.

¹⁵ So according to my ability, I am eager to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome as well.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of Christ's gospel, because it is God's power into salvation for anyone who believes, first to the Jew, and then to the Greek also.

¹⁷ For in it God's righteousness is revealed beginning with faith [and] ending with faith, as it is written, "The just will live by faith."

¹⁸ For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by unrighteousness.

¹⁹ Because what is essential about God is apparent to them, because God has made it clear to them.

²⁰ For the invisible things about him since the creation of the world are unmistakably seen. They are understood by the things that are made, both his eternal power and the essential characteristics of God, [making] these [people] without excuse.

²¹ And so, when they knew God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither were they thankful. They became foolish in their theories, so their foolish heart was darkened.

²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools.

²³ They replaced the glory of the God, who can't decay, into an image resembling man, who will decay, as well as birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

²⁴ For this reason God also gave them over to impurity in the lusts of their own hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves.

²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and they worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever blessed. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them over to appalling passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use into what is unnatural.

²⁷ Likewise the men also laying aside natural sexual relations with women were inflamed in their lust to other men. Men with men doing what is indecent and so receiving in themselves the reward for their deviate behavior which is appropriate.

²⁸ And just as they didn't think it was worthwhile to keep God in what they wanted to remember, God gave them over to a depraved mind to do those things that are not right to do.

²⁹ Being full of all unrighteousness, immoral sexual activity, wickedness, covetousness, desire to hurt others, full of envy, murder, loud arguments, deceit, evil cunning, someone who spreads rumors,

³⁰ backbiters, God haters, spiteful, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

³¹ without insight, promise breakers, pitiless, impossible to please, [and] callous.

³² Who knowing full well about the judgment of God--that those who do such things are worthy of death--not only do the same things but have pleasure [seeing others] practicing them.

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¹ Because of this O man, you have no excuse whoever you are who judges, because whenever you pass judgment on another, you condemn yourself, because you do the same things that you pass judgment on.

² Now we know that God's judgment on those who do such things is according to the truth.

³ And do you think, O man, who passes judgment on those who do such things yet does the same, that you will escape God's judgment?

⁴ Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and long suffering, not understanding that God's goodness leads you to repentance?

⁵ But according to your hard, impenitent heart you are storing up for yourself wrath for the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

⁶ who will settle the debt to everyone according to their actions.

⁷ To those who patiently continue in right actions are seeking for glory, honor, and immortality--eternal life.

⁸ But to those who are contentious, disobeying the truth, and obeying unrighteousness--fierce anger and wrath,

⁹ distress and anguish to everyone's soul who does evil to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.

¹⁰ But also glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.

¹¹ There is no favoritism with God.

¹² For as many as sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as sinned under the law will be judged by the law [13] (For the hearers of the law are not just before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.

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¹⁴ For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do the things of the law, these, not having law, are a law in themselves.

¹⁵ Who show the work of the law written on their hearts. Their conscience also bears witness, and their line of reasoning accuses or else excuses one another)

¹⁶ on that day when God will judge people's secrets by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

¹⁷ Look, you are called a Jew and rest on the law and proudly rejoice about God.

¹⁸ You know his will and are able to discern right from wrong being instructed from the law.

¹⁹ You are confident that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

²⁰ an instructor of the ignorant--a teacher of new converts--you having the appearance of knowledge and truth [found] in the law.

²¹ Therefore you, who teaches another, don't you teach yourself? You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal?

²² You say, "Don't commit adultery," [but] do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you desecrate what is sacred?

²³ You glory in the law, though in breaking the law don't you dishonor God?

²⁴ The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, just as it is written.

²⁵ Circumcision truly is useful, if you keep the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

²⁶ Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the righteousness [required] by the law, won't his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?

²⁷ And won't the uncircumcision, which is the natural condition, if they fulfill the law, condemn you, who have sacred letter and circumcision, [to be] a transgressor of the law?

²⁸ For one is not a Jew, just by outward appearance or outward circumcision of the flesh,

²⁹ but one [is] a Jew who is one inwardly, even circumcision of the heart in spirit, not letter, whose praise [comes] not from men but from God.

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¹ So what advantage has the Jew, or what profit is there in circumcision?

² Much in every way, foremost because the utterances of God were committed to them.

³ But what if some did not believe, will their unbelief invalidate God's system of religion?

⁴ Absolutely not! Let God be found true but every person a liar, as it is written, "That you might be shown to be right in what you said and might prevail when you are condemned."

⁵ For if our iniquity commends God's righteousness, what can we say? [Is] God unrighteous to mete out vengeance? (I speak as a man).

⁶ Absolutely not! For then how will God judge the world?

⁷ For if God's truth has increased because of my lie for his glory. Why am I yet judged as a sinner?

⁸ And not as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say, "Let us do evil, so good can come?" (Their damnation is just!)

⁹ What then, are we any better? No, not in any way, for we have proved before that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin.

¹⁰ As it is written, "There is no one righteous, no, not one.

¹¹ There is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks after God.

¹² They all turn aside together; all of them became useless. There is no one who does good, no, not one.

¹³ Their throat [is] an open sepulcher; they have used their own tongues to deceive. The poison of asps [is] under their lips.

¹⁴ Whose mouth [is] bloated with cursing and bitterness.

¹⁵ Their feet [are] quick to shed blood.

¹⁶ Destruction and misery [are] in their ways.

¹⁷ And the way of peace they have not known.

¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes.

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth will be shut and the entire world become guilty before God.

²⁰ Again, there will be no flesh justified in his sight by the deeds of the law, for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is made clear being confirmed by the law and the prophets.

²² Even the righteousness of God, [which is] by faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe, for there is no difference,

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of praise from God.

²⁴ Justified undeservedly [or freely] by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

²⁵ whom God has placed in public view [to be] the mercy seat through faith in his blood. [This is] conclusive proof of his righteousness for the passing over (through God's forbearance) of sins committed previously.

²⁶ [This is] conclusive proof at this present time showing his righteousness, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.

²⁷ So where is boasting then? It is excluded, by what law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a person is justified by faith without the works of the law.

²⁹ [Is he] the God of the Jews only, and not of the Gentiles, too? Yes, even of the Gentiles.

³⁰ Since [it is] one God who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through faith.

³¹ So then do we do away with the law? Absolutely not! On the contrary we establish the law.

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¹ What will we say then that Abraham, our father according to the flesh, has found?

² For if Abraham was justified because of works, he has reason to boast but not before God.

³ What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited as righteousness to him."

⁴ Now for the one who works, wages are not considered to be a gift but a debt.

⁵ But for the one who doesn't work but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

⁶ Even as David also describes the blessedness of one to whom God considers as righteousness without works.

⁷ "Blessed [are] those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

⁸ "Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not credit sin to his account."

⁹ Does this blessedness then come on the circumcision [only] or on the uncircumcision also? Indeed, we say that faith was credited as righteousness to Abraham.

¹⁰ So then when was it credited, when he was circumcised or uncircumcised? Not [when he was] circumcised but uncircumcised.

¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness, by faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all those who believe, even though they are not circumcised, so that righteousness would be put on their account, too.

¹² And he is the father of the circumcised, to those who are not just circumcised but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham that [he had] when uncircumcised.

¹³ For the promise that he should be the heir of the world [was] not to Abraham or his descendants through the law but though the righteousness [which comes] by faith.

¹⁴ For if those who are of the law [are] heirs, faith is meaningless and the promise worthless,

¹⁵ because the law brings about wrath. [This is] because where there is no law, there is no law breaking.

¹⁶ Therefore, [it is] from faith, in order that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be certain to all the descendants, not just to those who are from the law but also to those who have faith like Abraham's, who is the father of us all.

¹⁷ Just as it is written, "I have appointed you a father of many nations." [While he stood] in front of him whom he believed, that is God, who gives life to the dead and speaks of things that don't exist yet as if they did.

¹⁸ Who though hopeless, still believed in hope that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "In this way will your descendants be."

¹⁹ Not being weak in faith, he didn't consider his own body (now as good as dead, being about a hundred years old), or the deadness of Sarah's womb.

²⁰ He didn't doubt God's promise through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God,

²¹ and was completely assured that what [God] had promised, he was also able to carry out.

²² Therefore it was credited to him as righteousness.

²³ Now that it was credited to him was not written only for him,

²⁴ but also for us to whom it is intended to be credited if we believe on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead

²⁵ (who was handed over for our wrongdoings and was raised for our justification).

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¹ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

² through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope for God's praise.

³ And not only [that] but we rejoice in distress knowing also that distress brings about patience.

⁴ Patience [brings about] experience, and experience, hope.

⁵ Hope does not disappoint, because God's love is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given to us.

⁶ And even more, when we were helpless, Christ died for the ungodly at the right time.

⁷ Why, hardly would anyone die for a man of integrity, yet possibly for a really good person would someone even dare to die.

⁸ But God exhibited his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ And much more than that being now justified because of his blood, we will be saved from wrath through him.

¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by his Son's death, much more, having been reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

¹¹ And not only [this] but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

¹² For this reason, just as sin entered into the world through one man and death because of sin, so death came into all mankind, because all have sinned.

¹³ (For until the law, sin was in the world, but sin is not credited to one's account where there is no law.

¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who didn't sin in the same way as the transgression of Adam, who is a symbol of him who would come.

¹⁵ So also the free gift is not like the wrongdoing [of Adam]. For if through this wrongdoing of one many died, in a greater sense God's grace and the gift by grace (also by one man, Jesus Christ), is more than enough for many.

¹⁶ [There is] also a contrast between one sinning man and the gift, for judgment from one [sin] resulted in condemnation. but the free gift resulted in acquittal for many sins.

¹⁷ For if, through one man's wrongdoing, death ruled because of one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will rule in life because of one, Jesus Christ.)

¹⁸ Therefore since by one [man's] wrongdoing, [condemnation came] upon all, even so by one [man's] righteousness [the free gift came] upon all people resulting in the justification of life.

¹⁹ For since through one man's disobedience many became sinners, so through the obedience of one many will become righteous.

²⁰ Moreover the law showed up so that wrongdoing would increase, but where sin abounded, grace abounded more,

²¹ that just as sin has ruled in death, even so might grace rule through righteousness resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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¹ What shall we say then? Should we persist in sin, so grace may increase?

² Absolutely not! How can we who are dead to sin, live in that any longer?

³ Don't you know that all who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

⁴ Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, even so we should also walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united in the likeness of his death, even more so we will be [in the likeness] of his resurrection.

⁶ We know that our old nature is crucified with him, so that the body of sin would be destroyed, this [happened] so we would no longer serve sin.

⁷ Indeed the one who has died is freed from sin.

⁸ Now if we died along with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

⁹ We know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death doesn't rule over him any more

¹⁰ in that he died, [and] he died for sin only once, but in that he lives, he lives for God.

¹¹ So in this way regard yourselves to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹² Therefore sin must not rule your mortal body by obeying its evil desires.

¹³ And do not present all the your body parts [to be] unrighteous tools for sin, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and all your body parts [to be] righteous tools for God.

¹⁴ For sin will not have power over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.

¹⁵ Now then will we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not!

¹⁶ Don't you realize that to whom you present yourselves [to be] servants for obedience that you are his servants? You can obey either sin, which results in death, or obedience, which results in righteousness.

¹⁷ Thanks be to God that you were servants of sin but now you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was given to you.

¹⁸ Being freed from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.

¹⁹ I am describing this in human terms because of your physical weakness, for as you have presented all your body parts to be servants for uncleanness and iniquity upon iniquity, so now present all your body parts to be servants of righteousness [leading] to purity.

²⁰ When you were sin's servants, you were not a slave to righteousness.

²¹ What result did you have then with those things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.

²² Now being freed from sin and becoming servants of God, you have your harvest of purity, and its end is eternal life.

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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¹ Don't you know brothers (I'm speaking to those who know the law) how the law has authority over people as long as they are alive?

² Consider, the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives, but if the husband is dead, she is free from the law of her husband.

³ So then, if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be pronounced as an adulteress, but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress even if she is married to another man.

⁴ Therefore my brothers, you also were made dead to the law by the body of Christ, so you could be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, and may bring forth fruit for God.

⁵ When we were in the flesh, sinful passions, [brought out] by the law, worked in every part of our bodies to produce death.

⁶ But now we are severed from the law being dead to what we were restrained by, so that we would serve by a renewed spirit not by an obsolete writing.

⁷ So what will we say, that the law [is] sin? Absolutely not! Indeed, I hadn't known sin, except by the law, for I wouldn't be aware of lust, if the law hadn't said, "You must not covet."

⁸ But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, worked all kinds of covetousness in me. For sin is inactive without the law.

⁹ For at one time I was living without law, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

¹⁰ The commandment meant for [bringing] life was found [bringing] death to me.

¹¹ For sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, deceived me and by it killed me.

¹² Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, just, and good.

¹³ So then, that which is good made death in me? Absolutely not! Sin, in order for it to appear as sin, produced death in me by that which is good, so that sin through the commandment might become extremely sinful.

¹⁴ Indeed we understand that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly sold entirely to sin.

¹⁵ I don't understand what I do, because what I want to do, I don't, and what I hate, I do.

¹⁶ If then I do what I don't want to, I agree with the law that [it is] good.

¹⁷ So then it is no longer I doing it but sin that lives in me.

¹⁸ For I know that nothing good lives in me (that is my flesh), because the intent to do good is present with me but [how] to do what is good I can't find [it].

¹⁹ For the good that I want to do, I don't do, but the evil that I don't want to do, that [is what] I do.

²⁰ Now if I do what I don't want to, it is no longer I that does it, but sin which lives in me.

²¹ I discover then a law, that when I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

²² I rejoice in the law of God according to the inner man.

²³ But I observe another law in my body warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin that is in my body.

²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I, even I, serve God's law, but the flesh [serves] sin's law.

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¹ There is not any condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, [those] who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit.

² For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of sin and death.

³ For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and, as for sin, condemned sin in the flesh,

⁴ so that the righteousness of the law could be fulfilled in us who don't walk after the flesh but after the spirit.

⁵ Those following the flesh are interested in the things of the flesh, but those following the spirit [are interested in] the things of the spirit.

⁶ To have a carnal mindset [is] death, but to have a spiritual mindset [is] life and peace.

⁷ Because the carnal mind [is] hostile to God, because it does not submit to God's law, nor indeed can it.

⁸ So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if it is so that God's Spirit lives in you, and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

¹⁰ And if Christ [lives] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin, but the spirit [has] life because of righteousness.

¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies by his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore brothers we have no obligation to the flesh to live according to the flesh.

¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if with the Spirit's help you put to death the sinful actions of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For as many as are led by God's Spirit are God's children.

¹⁵ For you have not received the spirit of slavery again [which produces] fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption which causes us to shout, "Abba, Father!"

¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children.

¹⁷ And if children then heirs, heirs and joint-heirs with Christ, if perhaps we suffer together, it's so that we may be glorified together.

¹⁸ For I've come to the conclusion that the sufferings of this present time aren't worth [comparing] with the glory that will be revealed to us.

¹⁹ Creation waits with intense expectation for the appearance of God's children.

²⁰ For creation was subjected to futility, not willingly but by him who subjected it in hope.

²¹ Because creation itself also will be delivered from slavery to decay to enter the glorious liberty of God's children.

²² For we know that all creation together groans and writhes in pain to this day.

²³ And not only [them] but we ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit. Even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

²⁴ For we are kept safe by hope, but hope that is seen isn't hope, because why should a person still hope for something that he already sees?

²⁵ But if we hope for something that we don't see, then we patiently wait for it.

²⁶ In the same way the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we do not know what we should pray for, what is precisely necessary; however the Spirit himself make intercession for us with inexpressible sighings.

²⁷ And he who searches the hearts knows what the Spirit's intention [is], because he makes intercession for the God's people according to God's [will].

²⁸ We know that all things are working together for good to those who love God, being the called according to [his] purpose.

²⁹ Because whom he foreknew he also decided about in advance to conform to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

³⁰ Moreover whom he decided about in advance he also called, and whom he called he also justified, and whom he justified he also glorified.

³¹ What will we say about these things? If God [is] for us, who [can be] against us?

³² He didn't spare his own Son but handed him over for all of us. How much more will he not also freely give us all things as well as him?

³³ Who will bring an accusation against God's chosen ones? [It is] God who justifies [them].

³⁴ Who will give them a sentence of guilt? Christ died, even more importantly was raised up, and who is even at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us.

³⁵ Who will separate us from Christ's love? Will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword?

³⁶ As it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are considered to be nothing but sheep for slaughter."

³⁷ On the contrary, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, present things, things to come, [39] height, depth, or any other creature will be able to separate us from God's love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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¹ I tell the truth in Christ; I do not lie. My conscience also bears witness in the Holy Spirit,

² that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

³ For I could wish for myself to be cursed from Christ for my brethren according to the flesh,

⁴ who are Israelites, to whom [belongs] the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [in the temple to God], and the promises.

⁵ Whose are the fathers and from whom, concerning the flesh, Christ [came] who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not that the word of God has failed, for not all those from Israel [are] Israel.

⁷ Not just because they are offspring of Abraham [does it mean that they are] all children, but, "In Isaac will your offspring be named."

⁸ That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are considered as offspring.

⁹ For this [is] the word of promise, "At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son."

¹⁰ And not only [this], but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac,

¹¹ and although they were not yet born nor done anything good or evil but that God's purpose according to [His] choice might stand firm, not by works but by him who calls,

¹² it was said to her, "The elder will serve the younger."

¹³ Just as it is written, "Jacob, I have loved; Esau, I have hated."

¹⁴ What will we say then? That God is unrighteous? Absolutely not!

¹⁵ For he tells Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

¹⁶ So then, it is not on the one who wills or strains with effort but of God who shows mercy.

¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very reason I raised you up, so that I could show my power in you and that my name might be publicized throughout the whole earth."

¹⁸ Therefore he has mercy on whom he wants, and he hardens whom he wants.

¹⁹ So are you going to tell me, "Why does he still find fault, for who can resist his will?"

²⁰ No, on the contrary, O man, who are YOU to contradict God? Will what is molded say to the one who molded it, "Why have you made me this way?"

²¹ Doesn't the potter have authority over the clay to make pottery for honorable use as well as for common use from the same lump?

²² And [what] if God, wishing to show his wrath and make his authority known, endured with much long suffering the objects of wrath ready for destruction,

²³ and that He might make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy, which he prepared ahead of time for glory?

²⁴ Even us whom he has called, not only Jews but also Gentiles.

²⁵ As He says also in Hosea, "I will call them "My People" who were not my people and "My Beloved" who were not beloved.

²⁶ And it will be [that] in the place where it was said to them, «You are not my people,» there they will be called the children of the living God."

²⁷ Isaiah also speaks out concerning Israel, "Though the number of Israel's children are as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant will be saved.

²⁸ For He by righteousness will complete and quickly do the word, because the Lord will expedite [His] word on the earth."

²⁹ And just as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of armies had not left us a remnant, we would have been like Sodom and resembled Gomorrah."

³⁰ What will we say then? [We will say] that the Gentiles who didn't pursue [God's standard of] righteousness have gotten hold of righteousness, even the righteousness that is by faith.

³¹ But Israel, which pursued the law of righteousness, has not reached [the goal] of the law of righteousness.

³² Why? Because [they didn't seek it] by faith but as if it were by the works of the law, for they stumbled at the stumbling stone.

³³ As it is written, "Look, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, and whosoever believes on him will not be ashamed."

10

¹ Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.

² For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God but not according to full knowledge.

³ For without knowledge of God's [plan for] righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted themselves to God's righteousness.

⁴ For Christ is the perfect accomplishment of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes.

⁵ For Moses describes the righteousness that comes from the law, "The person who does these things will live by them."

⁶ But the righteousness which comes from faith puts it this way, "Don't say in your heart, «Who will go up into heaven» (that is, to bring Christ down),

⁷ or «Who will go down into the abyss» (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

⁸ Well what does it say? The word is near you, [even] in your mouth and heart, that is, the word of the faith, which we preach:

⁹ that if you will publicly confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and will believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will saved.

¹⁰ For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth publicly confessing that one is saved.

¹¹ For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed."

¹² There is no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, for the same sovereign Lord is abounding with riches to all who call on him.

¹³ For whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

¹⁴ So how then will they call on him whom they have not believed? Or, how will they believe in him whom they have not heard about, how will they hear [about him] without someone telling them?

¹⁵ How will someone [be there] to tell them unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who tell others the gospel of peace and bring the happy news of good things!"

¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what we said?"

¹⁷ So then faith [comes] by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

¹⁸ Yet I ask haven't they heard? Yes, truly, the sound [of their message] went into the whole earth.

¹⁹ And didn't Israel know? First of all Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealous by [those] not a nation, and by a stupid nation I will make you angry.

²⁰ Isaiah is very bold when he says, "I was found by those who didn't seek me; I appeared to those who didn't ask about me."

²¹ But to Israel he says, "All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people."

11

¹ So I say, "Has God rejected his people?" Absolutely not! I also am an Israelite of the offspring of Abraham, the tribe of Benjamin.

² God has not rejected his people whom he knows about beforehand. Don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah, when he interceded to God for Israel?

³ "Lord, they have killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life."

⁴ But what does God answer him? "I have left behind seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

⁵ In the same way then at this present time there is also a remnant chosen by grace.

⁶ If [it is] by grace, then [it is] not any longer by works, or else grace is no longer grace. But if [it is] by works, then it is no longer grace, or else work is no longer work.

⁷ What then? Israel hasn't discovered what he was looking for, but those chosen did discover it, and the rest were blinded.

⁸ Just as it is written, "God has given them spiritual insensitivity; eyes to see [that] don't [see] and ears to hear [that] don't [hear].

⁹ Even David says, "Let their table become a snare, a trap, a stumbling-block (a just payback to them).

¹⁰ "Let their eyesight be darkened so they cannot see and their backs bent over always."

¹¹ So I say, "Have they stumbled only to fall?" Absolutely not! On the contrary, through their misstep, salvation [has come] to the Gentiles to provoke [the Jews] to envy.

¹² Now if their misstep [is] the [spiritual] riches for the world and their loss the [spiritual] riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I hold my ministry in honor.

¹⁴ If somehow I can provoke to jealousy my flesh [and blood] and might save some of them.

¹⁵ For if their rejection [means] the reconciliation for the world, what their acceptance be if not life from the dead?

¹⁶ For if the first-fruits [are] holy, the whole lump [is] also, and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches.

¹⁷ And if some of the branches are broken off (and you, being a wild olive tree, are grafted in among them and partake of the root and richness of the cultivated olive tree with them),

¹⁸ do not brag that you are better than the branches. Now if you do brag, [consider this] you do not sustain the root but the root you.

¹⁹ You will reply then, "The branches were broken off, so I could be grafted in."

²⁰ Well, they were broken off because of unbelief, and you continue by faith. Don't be arrogant but fear.

²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, [take heed] lest he does not spare you either.

²² Consider therefore the kindness and severity of God: on those who fell--severity but towards you--kindness, if you continue in [his] kindness, otherwise you also will be cut off.

²³ And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

²⁴ For if you were cut off from the natural, wild olive tree and were grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these which are the natural [branches] be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵ Brethren, I don't want you to be ignorant of this mystery, lest you would become conceited, that a callous indifference has happened to a part of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes about.

²⁶ Then in this way all Israel will be saved, just as it is written, "The Deliverer will come out of Zion and remove ungodliness from Jacob."

²⁷ For this is my covenant with them as soon as I will take away their sins.

²⁸ Concerning the gospel [they are] enemies for your sake, but as concerning the chosen ones, [they are] beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

²⁹ For God's gifts and calling [are] without repentance.

³⁰ For just as in times past you didn't believe God, yet now you have received mercy through their disobedience.

³¹ Even so now these do not obey so that through the mercy shown you they also may receive mercy.

³² For God has shut them all up in unbelief that he might have mercy on all.

³³ O the depth of the riches of both God's wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable [are] his judgments and his paths untraceable!

³⁴ For who has known the Lord's mind, or who has been his counselor?

³⁵ Who has given to him first that he would have to repay?

³⁶ For from him, through him, and to him [are] all things. To [God be] the glory forever! Amen.

12

¹ I implore you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present yourselves as a holy, living sacrifice [which is] acceptable to God [and] your spiritual service [to Him].

² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what [is] the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

³ For I say to everyone among you, through the grace given to me, don't cherish the thought that you are more important than what you should think [about yourself] but have sober thoughts, since God has dispensed to everyone a measure of faith.

⁴ For as we have many body parts on one body and all body parts do not have the same function.

⁵ In the same way the many of us are in one body, in Christ, and every one a part of one other.

⁶ So we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If [it is] prophecy, [then prophesy] according to the proportion of faith.

⁷ If ministry, then minister; if teaching, then teach.

⁸ If motivating, then motivate. If giving, then [do it] with sincerity. If giving leadership, then [do it] with diligence. If showing compassion, then [do it] with cheerfulness.

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Stick tightly to what is good.

¹⁰ Cherish one another with brotherly love, in showing honor outdo one another.

¹¹ Don't be apathetic in religious zeal; be zealous in spirit; be serving the Lord.

¹² Be rejoicing in hope, be patient in tribulation, be urgent in prayer.

¹³ Be sharing what you have for the needs of the saints; be given to hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you. Bless; do not curse.

¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

¹⁶ Respect one another. Do not be inclined towards the upper class but condescend to those of lower status. Don't be conceited in yourselves.

¹⁷ Do not give out evil for evil. Have it settled in your mind to be honest in everyone's presence.

¹⁸ As much as is possible, live in peace with everyone.

¹⁹ Dearly beloved, don't seek revenge for yourself, but rather give room for the wrath [of God], for it is written, «Vengeance is mine; I will repay,» says the Lord."

²⁰ Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head.

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

13

¹ Let every soul obey the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God. The authorities, which are present, have been put there by God.

² Therefore whoever resists this authority defies what God has appointed, and those who do defy will receive judgment against themselves.

³ For rulers are not a cause of fear for good actions but for evil [actions]. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

⁴ He is God's servant to you for good, but if you do what is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't wear the sword in vain, because he is God's servant, an avenger to [execute] punishment on those who do evil.

⁵ Therefore you must be obedient, not just because of the fear of punishment but also for the sake of your conscience.

⁶ For this reason pay taxes also, for they are God's public servants being diligent with this very thing.

⁷ So pay everyone whatever you owe them--taxes to whom taxes [are due], tariffs to whom tariffs, respect for whom respect [is due], honor to whom honor [is due].

⁸ Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

⁹ For these [laws]: you must not commit adultery, you must not kill, you must not steal, you must not bear false witness, you must not covet, and whatever other commandment, it is briefly summarized in this saying, "You must love your neighbor as you do yourself."

¹⁰ Love does nothing evil to his neighbor; therefore love fulfills the law.

¹¹ Also this, knowing the time, that now [is] the time to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer that when we believed.

¹² The night is almost gone; the day is at hand. Therefore let us put away the deeds of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

¹³ Let us live honorably as in the day time, not in carousing, drunkenness, orgies, uncontrolled lust, heated arguments, or envying.

¹⁴ Instead put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make any preparations for the flesh to [fulfill] its sinful desires.

14

¹ Welcome him who is weak in the faith, but not for a judgmental confrontation.

² For one believes that he can eat anything, another, who is weak [in faith], eats herbs.

³ Don't let him who [feels free] to eat [anything] despise him who doesn't, and don't let him who doesn't [feel free] to eat [some things], judge the other, for God has welcomed him.

⁴ Who are you to judge another man's servant? He is approved or condemned by his own master. Yes, he will stand approved, for God is able to make him stand.

⁵ Someone decides that one day is more important than another; someone else decides that every day [is alike]. Each one must be fully convinced in his mind.

⁶ The one who considers one day [more important] considers [it] for the Lord's [honor], and the one who doesn't consider one day [more important] considers [that] for the Lord. He who [feels free] to eat [all foods], eats for the Lord's [honor], because he gives thanks to God. He who doesn't [feel free] to eat [some things] does that for the Lord's [honor] and gives God thanks.

⁷ None of us lives for our self, and no one dies for himself.

⁸ For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's,

⁹ for this reason Christ died, regained life, and rose again, so that he would rule over both the dead and living.

¹⁰ So why do you judge your brother, or why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

¹¹ For it is written, "As I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God."

¹² So then every one of us will give an account of himself to God.

¹³ Therefore we can't condemn one another anymore, instead condemn this: let no one put a stumbling block or offending thing in [his] brother's way.

¹⁴ I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing [is] unclean in itself, but to him who considers something unclean, then to him, [it is] unclean.

¹⁵ If your brother's feelings are hurt because of your food, you are not walking in love. Do not destroy him, for whom Christ died, with your food.

¹⁶ So then don't let your good be evil spoken of,

¹⁷ for the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ He who serves Christ in these things [is] well pleasing to God and approved by men.

¹⁹ Therefore let us follow things that result in peace and things that can build up each another.

²⁰ Don't tear down the work of God on account of food. It's true that everything is pure but even so [it is] wrong for that man who eats, who feels he is doing wrong.

²¹ It would be better not to eat flesh or drink wine or [anything] that would cause your brother to stumble, be offended, or be weakened [in the faith].

²² Do you have faith? Have it for yourself in God's sight. Happy is the one who doesn't condemn himself in what he has approved.

²³ The one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [it is] not with faith, for whatever [is] not of faith is sin.

15

¹ We who are strong [in faith] must bear with the weaknesses of those weak [in faith] and [must] not seek to please ourselves.

² Let each of us seek to please [his] neighbor for [their] good to build them up.

³ For even Christ didn't seek to please himself, but as it is written, "The criticisms of those who criticized you fell on me."

⁴ For whatever was written before was written for our learning, so that through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.

⁵ Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded towards one another according to Christ Jesus,

⁶ so that with one mind and mouth you may glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ Therefore receive one another as Christ also received us for God's glory.

⁸ I say [to you] that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers,

⁹ and that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy, as it is written, "For this reason I will give thanks to you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name."

¹⁰ Again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, along with his people."

¹¹ And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and praise him all you people."

¹² In addition Isaiah says, "There will be a root of Jesse, and he will rise to reign over the Gentiles. In him will the Gentiles trust."

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you can abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁴ I, myself, am also persuaded about you, my brethren, that you are also full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, also able to caution one another.

¹⁵ Brethren, I have written quite boldly to you, in part to remind you, because of the gift given to me by God,

¹⁶ that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, in priestly service of the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being made holy by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷ Therefore I have something to rejoice about through Jesus Christ in those things pertaining to God.

¹⁸ For I will not boldly speak about any of those things, except what Christ accomplished through me (to make the Gentiles obedient in word and deed)

¹⁹ by mighty signs and wonders [done] by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and all the way to Illyricum I have fully preached Christ's gospel.

²⁰ In this way I have earnestly preached the gospel where Christ was unknown, lest I should build on another's foundation.

²¹ Nonetheless as it is written, "Those who were never told about him, they will look at with wonder, and they who haven't heard will understand."

²² For this reason I also have been hindered many times from coming to you.

²³ But now having no more opportunity in these parts and having great desire for many years to come to you,

²⁴ whenever I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you, for I hope to see you on my journey and to be assisted there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

²⁵ But now I am about to travel to Jerusalem to serve the saints.

²⁶ For it has pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to contribute something for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

²⁷ It has truly pleased them, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they owe it to them to serve them in material things.

²⁸ Therefore after I have finished this and safely delivered this fruit to them, I will come by way of you to Spain.

²⁹ I am sure that when I come to you, I will come in the full blessing of Christ's gospel.

³⁰ Now I plead with you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and love for the Spirit, that you join me in earnest prayer to God for my behalf,

³¹ that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe and that my service which [I have] for Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints,

³² [and] that I may come to you with joy by the will of God and be refreshed with you.

³³ Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

16

¹ I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae,

² so you may welcome her in the Lord in a worthy manner as saints and assist her in whatever matter she has need of you, for she has been a helper to many including me.

³ Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus,

⁴ who have risked their lives for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

⁵ Likewise [greet] the congregation that is in their house. Say, "Hi," to my dear friend Epenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Achaia.

⁶ Say, "Hi," to Mary, who worked so hard for us.

⁷ Say, "Hi," to Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and fellow prisoners, who are highly regarded by the apostles.

⁸ Greet Amplias my dear friend in the Lord.

⁹ Greet Urbane, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my good friend.

¹⁰ Say, "Hi," to Apelles, approved by Christ. Greet those from Aristobulus' [household].

¹¹ Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those from the [household] of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

¹² Say, "Hello," to Tryphena and Tryphose, who work hard for the Lord. Greet Persis, who worked very hard for the Lord.

¹³ Say, "Hi," to Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren with them.

¹⁵ Say, "Hello," to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas, and all the saints with them.

¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss. The congregation of Christ greets you.

¹⁷ Now I beg you, brethren, keep your eye on those who create dissensions and opportunities for sin, contrary to the teaching you have learned. Avoid them.

¹⁸ For these are those who do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ but their own self-interests. By convincing words and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple.

¹⁹ For [the news of] your obedience has spread to all. I am glad therefore on your behalf, yet I want you to be wise about all that is good and innocent about what is evil.

²⁰ The God of peace will completely crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

²¹ Timothy my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives, greet you.

²² I, Teritus, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

²³ Gaius, my host, and the whole congregation greet you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you as well as Quartus, our brother.

²⁴ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

²⁵ Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of what was hidden and kept secret since the world began,

²⁶ but now is clearly seen and through the prophetic Scriptures (according to the commandment of the everlasting God) made know to all nations for the obedience of faith.

²⁷ [May] praise [be given] to God, who alone is wise, through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.