Because, having the knowledge of God, they did not give glory to God as God, and did not give praise, but their minds were full of foolish things, and their hearts, being without sense, were made dark.

Seeming to be wise, they were in fact foolish,

Because by them the true word of God was changed into that which is false, and they gave worship and honour to the thing which is made, and not to him who made it, to whom be blessing for ever. So be it.

And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right;

Who, though they have knowledge of the law of God, that the fate of those who do these things is death, not only go on doing these things themselves, but give approval to those who do them.

For when the Gentiles without the law have a natural desire to do the things in the law, they are a law to themselves;

And they, by their keeping of the law without circumcision, will be judges of you, by whom the law is broken though you have the letter of the law and circumcision.

What then? are we worse off than they? In no way: because we have before made it clear that Jews as well as Greeks are all under the power of sin;

They have all gone out of the way, there is no profit in any of them; there is not one who does good, not so much as one:

Their throat is like an open place of death; with their tongues they have said what is not true: the poison of snakes is under their lips:

And of the way of peace they have no knowledge:

And they may have righteousness put to their credit, freely, by his grace, through the salvation which is in Christ Jesus:

And he was given the sign of circumcision as a witness of the faith which he had before he underwent circumcision: so that he might be the father of all those who have faith, though they have not circumcision, and so that righteousness might be put to their account;

For if they who are of the law are the people who get the heritage, then faith is made of no use, and the word of God has no power;

(As it is said in the holy Writings, I have made you a father of a number of nations) before him in whom he had faith, that is, God, who gives life to the dead, and to whom the things which are not are as if they were.

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:

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.

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.

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

Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is, that they may get salvation.

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 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?

Lord, they have put your prophets to death, and made waste your altars, and now I am the last, and they are searching for me to take away my life.

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

So I say, Were their steps made hard in order that they might have a fall? In no way: but by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, so that they might be moved to envy.

Now, if their fall is the wealth of the world, and their loss the wealth of the Gentiles, how much greater will be the glory when they are made full?

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;

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.

As far as the good news is in question, they are cut off from God on account of you, but as far as the selection is in question, they are loved on account of the fathers.

So in the same way these have gone against the orders of God, so that by the mercy given to you they may now get mercy.

Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.

This man puts one day before another: to that man they are the same. Let every man be certain in his mind.

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.

Yes, it has been their good pleasure; and they are in their debt. For if the Gentiles have had a part in the things of the Spirit which were theirs, it is right for them, in the same way, to give them help in the things of the flesh.

But is now made clear; and by the writings of the prophets, by the order of the eternal God, the knowledge of it has been given to all the nations, so that they may come under the rule of the faith;