First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for what He has done for all of you; for the report of your faith is spreading through the whole world.

Now I don't desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

for revealed is the wrath of God from heaven upon all impiety and unrighteousness of men, holding down the truth in unrighteousness.

and men too in the same way have disregarded the natural function of women and been consumed with passion for one another, men for men, acting indecently, and experiencing in their own persons the inevitable penalty of what they have done.

And just as they had refused to continue to have a full knowledge of God, so it was to utterly worthless minds that God gave them up, for them to do things which should not be done.

For he will repay everyone according to what that person has done:

but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,

All those who have done wrong without the law will get destruction without the law: and those who have done wrong under the law will have their punishment by the law;

(for when Gentiles who don't have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,

This will be done on the day when God judges the secrets of men's [hearts] through Christ Jesus, according to [the teaching of] my Gospel.

You therefore who teach another, don't you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn't steal, do you steal?

Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under the control of sin and subject to its power.

They don't fear God.

For all have done wrong and are far from the glory of God;

whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;

For we maintain that it is as the result of faith that a man is held to be righteous, apart from actions done in obedience to Law.

For what does Scripture say? And Abraham believed God, and it was set down to his account as righteousness.

the reward is not counted as a favour to him that has done good actions, but as a debt:

whereas he that trusts in God to be made righteous, tho' he has not done such actions, shall find his faith accounted as righteousness.

For if the subjects of the law are heirs, the faith is done away and the promise abrogated.

For the Law only brings down God's wrath; where there is no law, there is no violation of it.

As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations." Abraham acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't yet exist.

Why, it is scarcely conceivable that any one would die for a simply just man, although for a good and lovable man perhaps some one, here and there, will have the courage even to lay down his life.

For this reason, as through one man sin came into the world, and death because of sin, and so death came to all men, because all have done evil:

For prior to the Law, sin actually existed in the world, but sin was not set down to man's account when there was no law.

But still death had power from Adam till Moses, even over those who had not done wrong like Adam, who is a picture of him who was to come.

Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him , that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;

Having knowledge that because Christ has come back from the dead, he will never again go down to the dead; death has no more power over him.

Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?

Or don't you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?

Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is alive; but if the husband dies, she is done with the law of 'the husband.'

but now we are done with the Law, we have died to what once held us, so that we can serve in a new way, not under the written code as of old but in the Spirit.

For I don't know what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do.

But if what I don't desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.

For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice.

But if what I don't desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.

Thank God! it is done through Jesus Christ our Lord! So mentally I am a slave to God's law, but physically to the law of sin.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son],

So that what was ordered by the law might be done in us, who are living, not in the way of the flesh, but in the way of the Spirit.

But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience.

In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered.

And not only this, but Rebecca also being with child by one, by our father Isaac??11 for the children not yet being born, nor having done any thing good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might continue, not of works but of him that calls,??12 it was said to her that the older shall serve the younger;

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

For even before the twins were born, and therefore had not done anything good or bad, Rebecca was told [Gen. 25:23], "The older one [i.e., Esau] will serve the younger one [i.e., Jacob]." This was so that God's purpose of choosing and calling [whomever He wanted to] might prevail, instead of [it depending on] what a person did.

For Moses lays down in writing the righteousness which is of the law, The man who has practised those things shall live by them.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

or, 'Who shall go down to the abyss,' that is, Christ out of the dead to bring up.

God didn't reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel:

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

But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works].

Now what are we to infer from this? That Israel has failed to secure the object of its quest; the elect have secured it, and the rest have been rendered insensible to it ??8 as it is written, God has given them a spirit of torpor, eyes that see not, ears that hear not ??down to this very day.

just as it is written [in Scripture],

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear,
[a spiritual apathy that has continued] to this very day.”

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

don't boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.

True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don't be conceited, but fear;

They also, if they don't continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

For I don't desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won't be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,

This done, all Israel will be saved ??as it is written, The deliverer will come from Sion, he will banish all godlessness from Jacob:

Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function,

As we have gifts that differ in accordance with the favor God has shown us, if it is that of preaching, let it be done in proportion to our faith;

Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don't curse.

Be of the same mind one toward another. Don't set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don't be wise in your own conceits.

Do not [try to] pay back a wrong done to you by doing something wrong to the other person. Think about how to live honorably in front of all people.

Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."

Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Therefore whoever resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves.

The night is far advanced, and day is about to dawn. We must therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness, and clothe ourselves with the armour of Light.

Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues.

The one who eats [everything] is not to look down on the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not criticize or pass judgment on the one who eats [everything], for God has accepted him.

But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your [believing] brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God [who alone is judge].

Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.

Then don't let your good be slandered,

for the sake of victuals cast not down the work of God; all things, indeed, are pure, but evil is to the man who is eating through stumbling.

But he who is uncertain [about eating a particular thing] is condemned if he eats, because he is not acting from faith. Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful].

Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope.

Still, on some points I have written to you very boldly and without reservation to remind you [about them] again, because of the grace that was given to me from God,

So, as a Christian, I am proud of the things that I have done for God.

For I will not [even] presume to speak of anything except what Christ has done through me [as an instrument in His hands], resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles [to the gospel], by word and deed,

My one ambition is to proclaim the gospel where the name of the Messiah is not known, so I don't build on someone else's foundation.

Yes, they have kindly done this, and, in fact, it was a debt they owed them. For seeing that the Gentiles have been admitted in to partnership with the Jews in their spiritual blessings, they in turn are under an obligation to render sacred service to the Jews in temporal things.

So when I have done this, and have given them this fruit of love, I will go on by you into Spain.

I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church at Cenchrea. [Note: This was a seaport town about seven miles east of Corinth].

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

To Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard for the Master; to my dear friend Persis, for she has done much hard work for the Master;

For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

And the God of peace will soon beat down Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

I, Tertius, who have done the writing of this letter, send love in the Lord.

Gaius, with whom I am living, whose house is open to all the church, sends his love, so does Erastus, the manager of the accounts of the town, and Quartus, the brother.