Because, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but fell into folly in their thoughts, and their heart without understanding was darkened:

professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

And according as they did not think good to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind to practise unseemly things;

who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only practise them, but have fellow delight in those who do them.

All have gone out of the way, they have together become unprofitable; there is not one that practises goodness, there is not so much as one:

their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; asps' poison is under their lips:

and way of peace they have not known:

Blessed they whose lawlessnesses have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered:

For if they which are of law be heirs, faith is made vain, and the promise made of no effect.

For they that are according to flesh mind the things of the flesh; and they that are according to Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

and they that are in flesh cannot please God.

nor because they are seed of Abraham are all children: but, In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee.

That is, they that are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned as seed.

And it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called Sons of the living God.

What then shall we say? That they of the nations, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained righteousness, but the righteousness that is on the principle of faith.

Wherefore? Because it was not on the principle of faith, but as of works. They have stumbled at the stumblingstone,

For I bear them witness that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without one who preaches?

and how shall they preach unless they have been sent? according as it is written, How beautiful the feet of them that announce glad tidings of peace, of them that announce glad tidings of good things!

But they have not all obeyed the glad tidings. For Esaias says, Lord, who has believed our report?

But I say, Have they not heard? Yea, surely, Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the extremities of the habitable world.

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thine altars; and I have been left alone, and they seek my life.

I say then, Have they stumbled in order that they might fall? Far be the thought: but by their fall there is salvation to the nations to provoke them to jealousy.

Right: they have been broken out through unbelief, and thou standest through faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:

And they too, if they abide not in unbelief, shall be grafted in; for God is able again to graft them in.

For if thou hast been cut out of the olive tree wild by nature, and, contrary to nature, hast been grafted into the good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who are according to nature be grafted into their own olive tree?

As regards the glad tidings, they are enemies on your account; but as regards election, beloved on account of the fathers.

so these also have now not believed in your mercy, in order that they also may be objects of mercy.

So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who thus resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves.

For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.

but according as it is written, To whom there was nothing told concerning him, they shall see; and they that have not heard shall understand.

They have been well pleased indeed, and they are their debtors; for if the nations have participated in their spiritual things, they ought also in fleshly to minister to them.