And I have no clear knowledge of what I am doing, for that which I have a mind to do, I do not, but what I have hate for, that I do.

For I am conscious that in me, that is, in my flesh, there is nothing good: I have the mind but not the power to do what is right.

For the good which I have a mind to do, I do not: but the evil which I have no mind to do, that I do.

For this cause those who are in Christ Jesus will not be judged as sinners.

For what the law was not able to do because it was feeble through the flesh, God, sending his Son in the image of the evil flesh, and as an offering for sin, gave his decision against sin in the flesh:

So that what was ordered by the law might be done in us, who are living, not in the way of the flesh, but in the way of the Spirit.

Because the mind of the flesh is opposite to God; it is not under the law of God, and is not able to be:

So that those who are in the flesh are not able to give pleasure to God.

You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God is in you. But if any man has not the Spirit of Christ he is not one of his.

So then, my brothers, we are in debt, not to the flesh to be living in the way of the flesh:

For you did not get the spirit of servants again to put you in fear, but the spirit of sons was given to you, by which we say, Abba, Father.

For every living thing was put under the power of change, not by its desire, but by him who made it so, in hope

And not only so, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we have sorrow in our minds, waiting for the time when we will take our place as sons, that is, the salvation of our bodies.

For our salvation is by hope: but hope which is seen is not hope: for who is hoping for what he sees?

But if we have hope for that which we see not, then we will be able to go on waiting for it.

And in the same way the Spirit is a help to our feeble hearts: for we are not able to make prayer to God in the right way; but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say;

He who did not keep back his only Son, but gave him up for us all, will he not with him freely give us all things?

Who will give a decision against us? It is Christ Jesus who not only was put to death, but came again from the dead, who is now at the right hand of God, taking our part.

Who will come between us and the love of Christ? Will trouble, or pain, or cruel acts, or the need of food or of clothing, or danger, or the sword?

For I am certain that not death, or life, or angels, or rulers, or things present, or things to come, or powers,

I say what is true in Christ, and not what is false, my mind giving witness with me in the Holy Spirit,

But it is not as if the word of God was without effect. For they are not all Israel, who are of Israel:

And they are not all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, In Isaac will your seed be named.

That is, it is not the children of the flesh, but the children of God's undertaking, who are named as the seed.

And not only so, but Rebecca being about to have a child by our father Isaac--

Before the children had come into existence, or had done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose and his selection might be effected, not by works, but by him whose purpose it is,

What may we say then? is God not upright? let it not be said.

So then, it is not by the desire or by the attempt of man, but by the mercy of God.

Or has not the potter the right to make out of one part of his earth a vessel for honour, and out of another a vessel for shame?

Even us, who were marked out by him, not only from the Jews, but from the Gentiles?

As he says in Hosea, They will be named my people who were not my people, and she will be loved who was not loved.

And in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there they will be named the sons of the living God.

And, as Isaiah had said before, If the Lord of armies had not given us a seed, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.

What then may we say? That the nations who did not go after righteousness have got righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:

But Israel, going after a law of righteousness, did not get it.

Why? Because they were not searching for it by faith, but by works. They came up against the stone which was in the way;

As it is said, See, I am putting in Zion a stone causing a fall, and a rock in the way: but he who has faith in him will not be put to shame.

For I give witness of them that they have a strong desire for God, but not with knowledge.

Because, not having knowledge of God's righteousness, and desiring to give effect to their righteousness, they have not put themselves under the righteousness of God.

But the righteousness which is of faith says these words, Say not in your heart, Who will go up to heaven? (that is, to make Christ come down:)

Because it is said in the holy Writings, Whoever has faith in him will not be shamed.

And the Jew is not different from the Greek: for there is the same Lord of all, who is good to all who have hope in his name:

But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?

And how will there be preachers if they are not sent? As it is said, How beautiful are the feet of those who give the glad news of good things.

But they have not all given ear to the good news. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has had faith in our word?

But I say, Did not the word come to their ears? Yes, certainly: Their sound has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

But I say, Had Israel no knowledge? First Moses says, You will be moved to envy by that which is not a nation, and by a foolish people I will make you angry.

And Isaiah says without fear, Those who were not searching for me made discovery of me; and I was seen by those whose hearts were turned away from me.

God has not put away the people of his selection. Or have you no knowledge of what is said about Elijah in the holy Writings? how he says words to God against Israel,

But what answer does God make to him? I have still seven thousand men whose knees have not been bent to Baal.

But if it is of grace, then it is no longer of works: or grace would not be grace.

What then? That which Israel was searching for he did not get, but those of the selection got it and the rest were made hard.

As it was said in the holy Writings, God gave them a spirit of sleep, eyes which might not see, and ears which have no hearing, to this day.

And David says, Let their table be made a net for taking them, and a stone in their way, and a punishment:

Let their eyes be made dark so that they may not see, and let their back be bent down at all times.

Do not be uplifted in pride over the branches: because it is not you who are the support of the root, but it is by the root that you are supported.

Truly, because they had no faith they were broken off, and you have your place by reason of your faith. Do not be lifted up in pride, but have fear;

For, if God did not have mercy on the natural branches, he will not have mercy on you.

See then that God is good but his rules are fixed: to those who were put away he was hard, but to you he has been good, on the condition that you keep in his mercy; if not, you will be cut off as they were.

And they, if they do not go on without faith, will be united to the tree again, because God is able to put them in again.

For it is my desire, brothers, that this secret may be clear to you, so that you may not have pride in your knowledge, that Israel has been made hard in part, till all the Gentiles have come in;

Because God's selection and his mercies may not be changed.

For as you, in time past, were not under the rule of God, but now have got mercy through their turning away,

O how deep is the wealth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! no one is able to make discovery of his decisions, and his ways may not be searched out.

And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.

But I say to every one of you, through the grace given to me, not to have an over-high opinion of himself, but to have wise thoughts, as God has given to every one a measure of faith.

For, as we have a number of parts in one body, but all the parts have not the same use,

Be not slow in your work, but be quick in spirit, as the Lord's servants;

Give blessing and not curses to those who are cruel to you.

Be in harmony with one another. Do not have a high opinion of yourselves, but be in agreement with common people. Do not give yourselves an air of wisdom.

Do not give evil for evil to any man. Let all your business be well ordered in the eyes of all men.

Do not give punishment for wrongs done to you, dear brothers, but give way to the wrath of God; for it is said in the holy Writings, Punishment is mine, I will give reward, says the Lord.

But if one who has hate for you is in need of food or of drink, give it to him, for in so doing you will put coals of fire on his head.

Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good.

Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God.

For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise;

For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God's servant, making God's punishment come on the evil-doer.

So put yourselves under the authority, not for fear of wrath, but because you have the knowledge of what is right.

And this, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another's, Do not have desire for what is another's, and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.

The night is far gone, and the day is near: so let us put off the works of the dark, arming ourselves with light,

With right behaviour as in the day; not in pleasure-making and drinking, not in bad company and unclean behaviour, not in fighting and envy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give thought to the flesh to do its desires.

Do not put on one side him who is feeble in faith, and do not put him in doubt by your reasonings.

Let not him who takes food have a low opinion of him who does not: and let not him who does not take food be a judge of him who does; for he has God's approval.

He who keeps the day, keeps it to the Lord; and he who takes food, takes it as to the Lord, for he gives praise to God; and he who does not take food, to the Lord he takes it not, and gives praise to God.

Then let us not be judges of one another any longer: but keep this in mind, that no man is to make it hard for his brother, or give him cause for doubting.

And if because of food your brother is troubled, then you are no longer going on in the way of love. Do not let your food be destruction to him for whom Christ went into death.

Let it not be possible for men to say evil about your good:

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

Do not let the work of God come to nothing on account of food. All things are certainly clean; but it is evil for that man who by taking food makes it hard for another.

It is better not to take meat or wine or to do anything which might be a cause of trouble to your brother.

The faith which you have, have it to yourself before God. Happy is the man who is not judged by that to which he gives approval.

But he who is in doubt is judged if he takes food, because he does it not in faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

We who are strong have to be a support to the feeble, and not give pleasure to ourselves.

For Christ did not give pleasure to himself, but, as it is said, The bitter words of those who were angry with you came on me.

Making it my purpose not to take the good news where Christ was named, so that my work might not be resting on that of others;

But as it is said in the holy Writings, They will see, to whom the news of him had not been given, and those to whose ears it had not come will have knowledge.

So that I may be kept safe from those in Judaea who have not put themselves under the rule of God, and that the help which I am taking for Jerusalem may be pleasing to the saints;

That you will take her in kindly, after the way of the saints, as one who is the Lord's, and give her help in anything in which she may have need of you: because she has been a help to a great number and to myself.

Who for my life put their necks in danger; to whom not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are in debt: