First of all, I want to thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being told about throughout the whole world.

For I want very much to see you, so I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that many times I have planned to come to you, (and have been prevented so far) so that I may have some fruit [of my labors] among you, even as I have among the rest of the Gentiles.

And shall not he whose want of circumcision is owing to his birth, if he keeps the law, condemn you, who, by the literal circumcision, transgress the law?

For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?

He was not led by want of faith to doubt God's promise.

For what I am doing I do not understand, because what I want [to do], this I do not practice, but what I hate, this I do.

But if what I do not want [to do], this I do, I agree with the law that [it is] good.

For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.

For the good that I want [to do], I do not do, but the evil that I do not want [to do], this I do.

But if what I do not want [to do], this I am doing, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that lives in me.

So I find it to be the law [of my inner self], that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

For those people who are [controlled] by the flesh think about [i.e., desire] what the flesh wants; but those who are [controlled] by the Holy Spirit [desire] what the Holy Spirit wants.

For he says to Moses, "I will be merciful to the person I want to be merciful to, and I will be kind to the person I want to be kind to."

So then, it does not depend on what a person wants or does, but on God, who shows pity [i.e., to whomever He wants].

So then, God has pity on whomever He wants to, and He makes stubborn whomever He wants.

But you [i.e., probably an objecting Jew] will say to me, "Why does God still find fault [with people]? For who can [successfully] resist what God wants to do?"

A potter has the right to do what he wants to with his clay, doesn't he? He can make something for a special occasion or something for ordinary use from the same lump of clay.

Now if God wants to demonstrate his wrath and reveal his power, can't he be extremely patient with the objects of his wrath that are made for destruction?

I say then, did the Jews trip [over Jesus] just so they could fall [away from God]? Certainly not! [There was another reason]: Instead, it was by means of their sin that salvation was made available to the Gentiles, so that the Jews might become jealous of them [i.e., causing them to want what the Gentiles now had].

Well: by their want of faith, they have been broken out, - and, thou, by thy faith, dost stand! - Regard not lofty things, but be afraid;

Whereas, they also, unless they abide still in their want of faith, shall be grafted in, for God is, able, again to engraft them!

I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]—so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;

Relieve the wants of the holy; be given to hospitality.

For rulers are not a [cause of] terror for a good deed, but for bad [conduct]. So do you want not to be afraid of authority? Do what [is] good, and you will have praise from it,

But now, having no further opportunities in these regions, I want to come to you, as I've desired to do for many years.

I want to introduce to you our sister Phoebe, who is a helper in the church at Cenchreae.

For [the report of] your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, and I want you to be wise toward what [is] good, but innocent toward what [is] evil.