always asking in my prayers if somehow now at last I may succeed to come to you in the will of God.

Now I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, that often I intended to come to you, and was prevented until now, in order that I might have some fruit among you also, just as also among the rest of the Gentiles.

For [although they] knew God, they did not honor [him] as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

who, [although they] know the requirements of God, that those who do such things are worthy of death, not only do they do the same [things], but also they approve of those who do [them].

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

For [there] is no partiality with God.

and know his will and approve the things that are superior, [because you] are instructed by the law,

just as it is written, "[There] is no one righteous, not even one;

[there] is no one who understands; [there] is no one who seeks God.

All have turned aside together; they have become worthless; [There] is no one who practices kindness; [there] is not even one.

Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law, in order that every mouth may be closed and the whole world may become accountable to God.

For by the works of the law {no person will be declared righteous} before him, for through the law [comes] knowledge of sin.

But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified about by the law and the prophets--

that is, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For [there] is no distinction,

Therefore, where [is] boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited according to grace, but according to his due.

For the law produces wrath, but where [there] is no law, neither [is there] transgression.

And not only [this], but we also boast in our afflictions, [because we] know that affliction produces patient endurance,

Therefore, by much more, [because we] have been declared righteous now by his blood, we will be saved through him from the wrath.

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

For until the law, sin was in the world, but sin is not charged to one's account [when there] is no law.

Now the law came in as a side issue, in order that the trespass could increase, but where sin increased, grace was present in greater abundance,

Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so also we may live {a new way of life}.

knowing this, that our old man was crucified together with [him], in order that the body of sin may be done away with, [that] we may no longer be enslaved to sin.

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

knowing that Christ, [because he] has been raised from the dead, is going to die no more, death no longer being master over him.

Do you not know that to whomever you present yourselves [as] slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whomever you obey, whether sin, [leading] to death, or obedience, [leading] to righteousness?

(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you presented your members [as] slaves to immorality and lawlessness, [leading] to lawlessness, so now present your members [as] slaves to righteousness, [leading] to sanctification.

Therefore what sort of fruit did you have then, about which you are now ashamed? For the end of those [things] [is] death.

But now, having been set free from sin and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit [leading] to sanctification, and its end [is] eternal life.

Or do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is master of a person for as long a time [as] he lives?

But now we have been released from the law, [because we] have died [to that] by which we were bound, so that we may serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter [of the law].

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, {sold into slavery to sin}.

But now I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that lives in me.

For I know that good does not live in me, that is, in my flesh. For the willing is present in me, but the doing [of] the good [is] not.

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.

Consequently, [there is] now no condemnation for those [who are] in Christ Jesus.

For we know that the whole creation groans together and suffers agony together until now.

And likewise also, the Spirit helps [us] in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as one ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes [for us] [with] unexpressed groanings.

And we know that all [things] work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to [his] purpose,

[No], but in all these [things] we prevail completely through the one who loved us.

What then shall we say? [There is] no injustice with God, [is there]? May it never be!

For [there] is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same [Lord] [is] Lord of all, who is rich to all who call upon him.

But I say, Israel did not know, did they? First, Moses says, "I will provoke you [to jealousy] by [those who are] not a nation; by a senseless nation I will provoke you [to anger]."

God has not rejected his people, whom he foreknew! Or do you not know, in [the passage about] Elijah, what the scripture says--how he appeals to God against Israel?

But what does the divine response say to him? "I have left for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal."

But if by grace, [it is] no longer by works, for otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Therefore, inasmuch as I am apostle to the Gentiles, I promote my ministry,

Now if the first fruits [are] holy, [so] also [is] the [whole] batch of dough, and if the root [is] holy, [so] also [are] the branches.

Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, [although you] were a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the root of the olive tree's richness,

For just as you formerly were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of the disobedience of these,

so also these have now been disobedient for your mercy, in order that they also may now be shown mercy.

Pay back no one evil for evil. Take thought for [what is] good in the sight of all people.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for [there] is no authority except by God, and those that exist are put in place by God.

for it is God's servant to you for what [is] good. But if you do what [is] bad, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword to no purpose. For it is God's servant, the one who avenges for punishment on the one who does [what is] bad.

And [do] this [because you] know the time, that [it is] already the hour for you to wake up from sleep. For our salvation [is] nearer now than when we believed.

Now receive the one who is weak in faith, [but] not for quarrels about opinions.

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

Therefore, let us no longer pass judgment on one another, but rather decide this: not to place a cause for stumbling or a temptation before a brother.

I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing [is] unclean of itself, except to the one who considers something to be unclean; to that person [it is] unclean.

For if because of food, your brother is grieved, you are no longer living according to love. Do not destroy by your food that person for whom Christ died.

Now may the God of patient endurance and of encouragement grant you {to be in agreement} with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now I myself also am convinced about you, my brothers, that [you] yourselves also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to instruct one another.

and now, no longer having a place in these regions, but having a desire for many years to come to you

But now I am traveling to Jerusalem, serving the saints.

and I know that [when I] come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Now I exhort you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to contend along with me in your prayers on my behalf to God,

Now [may] the God of peace [be] with all of you. Amen.

Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also a servant of the church in Cenchrea,

Now I exhort you, brothers, to look out for those who cause dissensions and temptations contrary to the teaching which you learned, and stay away from them.