You who say that a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?

But if our unrighteousness causes God's plan of justifying men to be better known, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous, who inflicts punishment? I speak as a man.

Then, why not say, (as we are slanderously reported as saying, and, as some affirm, that we do say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Of such persons the condemnation is just.

Now we know that what the law says, it speaks- to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God.

What, then, shall we say that Abraham our father has found, as it respects the flesh?

For what says the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Comes this blessedness then on those who are circumcised only, or on those who are uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham for righteousness.

What, then, shall we say? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

What, then, shall we say? Is the law sin? It can not be. Indeed, I had not known sin, except through law. For I had not known evil desire, unless the law had said: You shall not have any evil desire.

What, then, shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

What, then, shall we say? Is there unrighteousness with. God? It can not be.

For he says to Moses: I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy; and I will show compassion to whom I will show compassion.

For the scripture says to Pharaoh: For this very purpose have I raised you up, that I may show in you my power, and that my name may be published in all the earth.

You will then say to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?

No, but rather, O man, who are you that dispute with God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed, it, Why have you made me thus?

As he says also in Hosea: I will call that my people which is not my people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.

What, then, shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not seek after justification, have obtained justification, even the justification which is by faith:

But the justification by faith speaks thus: Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? that is, to bring Christ down;

But what says it? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart; that is, the word of faith which we preach;

For the scripture says: He that believes on him shall not be ashamed.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says: Lord, who has believed our report?

But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, verily; their voice has gone forth into all the earth: and -their words to the ends of the world.

But I say: Did not Israel know? First, Moses says: I will excite you to jealousy by that which is no nation; and by a foolish nation I will provoke you to wrath.

But Isaiah is very bold, and says: I was found by them that sought me not: I was made manifest to them that asked not after me.

But with respect to Israel, he says: All day long have I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contradicting people.

I say, then, Has God rejected his people? It can not be. For I am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture says, in regard to Elijah? how he intercedes with God against Israel, saying:

But what says the answer of God to him? I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.

And David says: Let their table become a trap, and a net, and a snare, and a recompense to them;

I say, then, Have they stumbled, in order that they may fall? It can not be. But rather, through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to excite them to jealousy.

You will say then: The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one that is among you, that he must not think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but that he be disposed to think modestly, as God has distributed to each a measure of faith.

Beloved, avenge not yourselves, but give place to the wrath of God; for it is written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.

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

Now, I say, that Jesus Christ, as a minister, was of the circumcision for the sake of the truth of God, in order to con firm the promises made to the fathers,

And again he says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.

And again, Isaiah says: There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to rule the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust.