asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last find the way to come to you.

I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have some harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Though they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge another; for in whatever point you pass judgment on him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.

We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who do such things.

Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

For God shows no partiality.

and know his will and approve of what is excellent, because you are instructed in the law,

As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;

there is no one who understands, no one who seeks for God.

All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

and the way of peace they do not know."

"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

Therefore no flesh will be justified in his sight by works of the law, for through the law comes knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God has been revealed apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For there is no difference,

Where then is our boasting? It is excluded. On what law? On the law of works? No, but on the law of faith.

Now to him who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due.

For if those who are of the law are to be the heirs, faith has no value and the promise is void,

because the law brings wrath, for where there is no law there is no transgression.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved through him from the wrath of God.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.

(For sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted when there is no law.

Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

For we know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one to obey as slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

I am speaking in human terms, because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for holiness.

But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is holiness and its end, eternal life.

Do you not know, brethrenfor I am speaking to those who know the lawthat the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives?

But now, by dying to what once held us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

So then, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will to do what is good, but I cannot do it.

Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in birth pangs together until now.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches on all who call upon him.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

But what is God's reply to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

And if it is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.

Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy.

Repay no one evil for evil, but have regard for what is noble in the sight of all.

No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will have praise from him.

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

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

And do this, knowing the hour, that now it is full time for you to wake from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

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

I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not by your eating destroy the one for whom Christ died.

But now, since I no longer have any place for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,

Now, however, I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints.

And I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,

Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages

but is now revealed and made known to all nations through the prophetic writings, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith