1 It is the duty of us who are strong to bear with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not merely to please ourselves.
2 Each one of us must practice pleasing his neighbor, to help in his immediate upbuilding for his eternal good.
3 Christ certainly did not please Himself; instead, as the Scripture says, "The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen upon me."
4 For everything that was written in the earlier times was written for our instruction, so that by our patient endurance and through the encouragement the Scriptures bring we might continuously cherish our hope.
5 May God, who gives men patient endurance and encouragement, grant you such harmony with one another, in accordance with the standard which Christ Jesus sets,
6 that with united hearts and lips you may praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore, practice receiving one another into full Christian fellowship, just as Christ has so received you to Himself.
8 Yes, I mean that Christ has become a servant to Israel to prove God's truthfulness, to make valid His promises to our forefathers,
9 and for the heathen peoples to praise God for His mercy, as the Scripture says: "For this I will give thanks to you among the heathen, and will sing praises to your name."
10 And again: "Rejoice, you heathen peoples, with His people!"
11 And again: "All you heathen peoples, praise the Lord, yea, let all peoples sing His praise."
12 And again Isaiah says: "The noted Son of Jesse will come, even He who rises to rule the heathen; on Him the heathen will set their hope."
13 May the hope-inspiring God so fill you with perfect joy and peace through your continuing faith, that you may bubble over with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 As far as I am concerned about you, my brothers, I am convinced that you especially are abounding in the highest goodness, richly supplied with perfect knowledge and competent to counsel one another.
15 And yet, to refresh your memories, I have written you rather freely on some details, because of the unmerited favor shown me by God
16 in making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the heathen peoples, to have me act as a sacrificing minister of the good news, in order that my offering of the heathen peoples to God may be acceptable, consecrated by the Holy Spirit.
17 So, as a Christian, I am proud of the things that I have done for God.
18 For I would venture to mention only what Christ has accomplished through me in bringing the heathen peoples to obedience, by word and by work,
19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit. So I have completed the telling of the good news of Christ all the way from Jerusalem around to Illyricum.
20 In this matter it has ever been my ambition to tell the good news where Christ's name had never been mentioned, so as not to build upon foundations laid by other men,
21 but, as the Scripture says: "They will see who were never told of Him, and they will understand who have not heard."
22 This is the reason why I have so often been prevented from coming to see you.
23 But now, as there are no more places for me to occupy in this part of the world, and as I have for many years been longing to come to see you,
24 when I make my trip to Spain, I certainly hope to see you on my way there and to be helped forward by you, after I have enjoyed being with you awhile.
25 But just now I am on my way to Jerusalem to help God's people.
26 For Macedonia and Greece were delighted to make a contribution to the poor among God's people in Jerusalem.
27 They certainly were delighted to do it, and they really are under obligation to them, for if the heathen peoples have shared in their spiritual blessings, they ought to serve them in material blessings.
28 So, after I have finished this matter and made sure of the results of this contribution for them, I shall come by you on my way to Spain.
29 And I feel sure that when I do come to you, I shall come with Christ's abundant blessing on me.
30 Now I beg you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that the Spirit inspires, to wrestle with me in prayers to God on my behalf,
31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who are disobedient, and that the help which I am taking to Jerusalem may be well received by God's people there,
32 so that, if it is God's will, I may come with a happy heart to see you and have a refreshing rest while with you.
33 The peace-giving God be with you all! Amen.