Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative), set apart for [preaching] the gospel of God [the good news of salvation],

So, whoever you are, you people do not have any excuse for judging people [Note: At this point Paul begins addressing the Jews. See verse 17]. For in a matter where you judge someone else [to be wrong] you [actually] condemn yourselves, because you are practicing the same things [you condemn them for doing].

The privilege is great from every point of view. First of all, because the Jews were entrusted with God's truth.

"What then are we the better?" Not at all, in point of justification; for we have before proved that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin: as it is written,

All have bent aside, together have they become unprofitable: there is none doing good, there is not even one.

Now when a workman gets his pay, it is not considered from the point of view of a favor but of an obligation;

For he who beyond hope believed on hope for him to become the father of many nations (according to that which was spoken, "So your seed shall be").

and being absolutely certain that whatever promise He is bound by He is able also to make good.

But God puts his love for us beyond all doubt by the fact that Christ died on our behalf while we were still sinners.

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

So then, if while her husband is living she connect herself with another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband die, she is no longer bound by that law, so that she will not be an adulteress, though she connect herself with another man.

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].

but sin, getting a point of attack by the commandment, wrought in me every lust; for without law sin was dead.

for sin, getting a point of attack by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

Therefore, did what is good cause my death? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.

So too the Spirit assists us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray aright, but the Spirit pleads for us with sighs that are beyond words,

Because those of whom he had knowledge before they came into existence, were marked out by him to be made like his Son, so that he might be the first among a band of brothers:

For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers,

For I was on the point of praying to be accursed from Christ on behalf of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

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."

“Let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see,
And make their backs bend [under their burden] forever.”

For, if, thou, out of the naturally wild olive was cut out, and, beyond nature, hast been engrafted into the good olive, how much rather, shall these, the natural branches be engrafted into their own olive tree?

From the standpoint of the gospel, the Jews [at present] are enemies [of God] for your sake [which is for your benefit], but from the standpoint of God’s choice [of the Jews as His people], they are still loved by Him for the sake of the fathers.

For God has bound all men over to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all.

O the depth of wealth, both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways beyond finding out!

For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to over think beyond what he ought to think, but to think so as to think soundly, as God has apportioned to each man a measure of faith.

Let your love be a real thing, with a loathing for evil and a bent for what is good.

You are bound, therefore, to obey, not only through fear of God's punishments, but also as a matter of conscience.

for the same reason as you pay taxes ??since magistrates are God's officers, bent upon the maintenance of order and authority.

For, one, indeed esteemeth one day beyond another, whereas, another, esteemeth every day: - let, each one, in his own mind be fully persuaded.

So why do you criticize your brother? And you, why do you look down upon your brother? All of us have to stand before the tribunal of God ??11 for it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, every tongue shall offer praise to God.

For it is said in the holy Writings, By my life, says the Lord, to me every knee will be bent, and every tongue will give worship to God.

We are bound, however, we, who are strong, the weakness of them who are not strong to be bearing, and not, unto ourselves, to give pleasure.

They have been well-pleased, indeed, - and, their debtors, they are; for, if, with their spiritual things the nations have come into fellowship, they are bound also with their own carnal things to minister publicly unto them.

And I beseech you, brethren, to observe narrowly them having made divisions and scandals against the teaching which ye learned; and bend away from them.