but Israel, who followed the law of justice, hath not attained to the law of justice.

And why? Simply because Israel has relied not on faith but on what they could do. They have stumbled over the stone that makes men stumble ??33 as it is written, Here I lay a stone in Sion that will make men stumble, even a rock to trip them up; but he who believes in Him will never be disappointed.

As it is written:

Look! I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over
and a rock to trip over,
yet the one who believes on Him
will not be put to shame.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.

Whereas, the righteousness by faith, thus speaketh - Do not say in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? That is, to bring, Christ, down,

Or, Who shall descend into the abyss? That is, to bring up, Christ, from among the dead;

Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame,

For there is no distinction - of Jew or Greek, - for, the same Lord , is Lord of all, being rich unto all who call upon him;

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

How, then, shall men call upon one in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in one of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without one to proclaim?

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!

But, not all, have become obedient unto the glad tidings; - for, Isaiah, saith - Lord! who believed what we have heard?

but all do not obey the gospel. for Esaias saith, "Lord, who hath believed our report?"

But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said:

I will make you jealous
of those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation
that lacks understanding.

Isaiah, however, waxeth daring, and saith, - I have been found by them who after me were not seeking, manifest have I become unto them who for me were not enquiring;

But about Israel he says; All the day my hands have been stretched out to a people whose hearts were turned away, and who put themselves against my word.

God hath not cast off his people, whom he fore approved. Or know ye not, in the account of Elijah what the scripture saith, when he intercedeth with God against Israel?

But what saith unto him the response? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who, indeed, have not bowed a knee unto Baal.

In the same way, there are at this present time some who are marked out by the selection of grace.

What follows? Israel failed to get what it sought, but those whom God selected got it.

Now if the Jews sinning meant blessings for [the rest of] the world, and their [spiritual] defection meant blessings for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness [also produce blessings]! [Note: "Fullness" here may mean either a large or the complete number of Jews who will be saved, or become completely obedient to God].

Yes, I now am speaking to you who are a part of the heathen peoples. As I am an apostle to the heathen peoples, I am making the most of my ministry to them, to see

If by any means I may incite to emulation them who are my flesh, and may save some of them.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you who were only a wild olive shoot have been grafted in, in place of them, and made to share the richness of the olive's root,

Do not be uplifted in pride over the branches: because it is not you who are the support of the root, but it is by the root that you are supported.

See, then, the kindness and the severity of God: upon them who have fallen, severity, - but, upon thee, the kindness of God, if thou abide still in the kindness, - otherwise, thou also, shalt he cut out;

for if thou, out of the olive tree, wild by nature, wast cut out, and, contrary to nature, wast graffed into a good olive tree, how much rather shall they, who are according to nature, be graffed into their own olive tree?

For I want you to know this secret, brothers, so you will not become conceited: Part of the Israelites have become [spiritually] insensitive [to God], [and will remain that way] until the fullness of the Gentiles occurs. [Note: As with verse 12, concerning the Jews, "fullness" here may mean either a large or the complete number of Gentiles who will be saved].

and so all Israel shall be saved, according as it hath been written, 'There shall come forth out of Sion he who is delivering, and he shall turn away impiety from Jacob,

Now in response to the [proclamation of the] good news [about Christ], the Jews became [God's] enemies for the sake of you [Gentiles]. But concerning [God's] select people, these Jews became [God's] dearly loved ones for the sake of their forefathers [i.e, who believed God's promises regarding their descendants].

for God does not change his mind about those to whom he gives his blessings or sends his call.

For who hath come to know the mind of the Lord? Or who hath become his counselor?

Or who hath first given unto him, and it shall be recompensed to him again?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

For I say, through the favour which hath been given me, unto every one who is among you, - not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but so to think as to think soberly - as, unto each one, God hath dealt a measure of faith.

in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

or ministration -- 'In the ministration!' or he who is teaching -- 'In the teaching!'

or he who is exhorting -- 'In the exhortation!' he who is sharing -- 'In simplicity!' he who is leading -- 'In diligence?' he who is doing kindness -- 'In cheerfulness.'

Communicate to the necessities of the saints, pursue hospitality, Bless them who persecute you;

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Take part in the joy of those who are glad, and in the grief of those who are sorrowing.

Do not take revenge on someone who has wronged you, but leave it up to God's wrath [to take care of it], for it is written [Deut. 22:35], "The Lord says, I will pay people back [for doing wrong] because taking revenge belongs to me."

But if one who has hate for you is in need of food or of drink, give it to him, for in so doing you will put coals of fire on his head.

Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

For which reason everyone who puts himself against the authority puts himself against the order of God: and those who are against it will get punishment for themselves.

For, they who bear rule, are not a terror unto the good work but unto the evil. Wouldst thou not be afraid of the authority? That which is good, be thou doing, and thou shall have praise of the same;

For, God's minister, is he unto thee for that which is good. But, if, that which is evil, thou be doing, be afraid! For, not in vain, the sword he beareth; for, God's minister, he is, - an avenger, unto anger, to him who practiseth what is evil.

But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God's servants to administer punishment to anyone who does wrong. Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities, not only for the sake of God's punishment, but also for the sake of your own conscience.

This is the reason why you should pay taxes also. For the authorities are God's servants who continually tend to this matter [i.e., of collecting taxes].

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.

Be in debt for nothing, but to have love for one another: for he who has love for his neighbour has kept all the law.

Let us live becomingly for people who are in the light of day, not in carousing and drunkenness, nor in sexual immorality and licentiousness, nor in quarreling and jealousy.

Do not put on one side him who is feeble in faith, and do not put him in doubt by your reasonings.

One man has faith to take all things as food: another who is feeble in faith takes only green food.

Let not him who takes food have a low opinion of him who does not: and let not him who does not take food be a judge of him who does; for he has God's approval.

Who are you to make yourself a judge of another man's servant? it is to his master that he is responsible for good or bad. Yes, his place will be safe, because the Lord is able to keep him from falling.

There are some who esteem one day above another; there are others who esteem all days alike; let each other be fully persuaded in his own mind.

He who keeps the day, keeps it to the Lord; and he who takes food, takes it as to the Lord, for he gives praise to God; and he who does not take food, to the Lord he takes it not, and gives praise to God.

For this is the reason that Christ died and [now] lives again, so that He could be Lord of both those who have [already] died and those who are [still] alive.

But why do you [who eat only certain foods] condemn your brother [who feels he can eat anything]? Or, indeed, why do you [i.e., who feels he can eat anything] look down on your brother [i.e., who eats only certain foods]? For all of us will have to stand before the judgment bar of God.

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus - that, nothing, is profane of itself, - save to him who reckoneth anything to be profane, unto that man, it is profane,

And if because of food your brother is troubled, then you are no longer going on in the way of love. Do not let your food be destruction to him for whom Christ went into death.

And he who in these things is Christ's servant, is pleasing to God and has the approval of men.

Do not let the work of God come to nothing on account of food. All things are certainly clean; but it is evil for that man who by taking food makes it hard for another.

The faith which you have, have it to yourself before God. Happy is the man who is not judged by that to which he gives approval.

But he who is in doubt is judged if he takes food, because he does it not in faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

We who are strong have to be a support to the feeble, and not give pleasure to ourselves.

For Christ did not give pleasure to himself, but, as it is said, The bitter words of those who were angry with you came on me.

Now may the God who gives comfort and strength in waiting make you of the same mind with one another in harmony with Christ Jesus:

And again Isaiah says, There will be the root of Jesse, and he who comes to be the ruler over the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles put their hope.

May God, who inspires our hope, grant you perfect happiness and peace in your faith, till you are filled with this hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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.

For Macedonia and Achaia have been well-pleased to make a certain fellowship for the destitute of the saints who are in Jerusalem, -

Yes, they were glad to do so; and indeed it is a duty which they owe to them. For the Gentile converts who have shared their spiritual blessings are in duty bound to minister to them in the things of this world.

So after discharging this duty, and making sure that these kind gifts reach those for whom they are intended, I shall start for Spain, passing through Rome on my way there;

So that I may be kept safe from those in Judaea who have not put themselves under the rule of God, and that the help which I am taking for Jerusalem may be pleasing to the saints;

God who gives peace be with you all! Amen.

It is my desire to say a good word for Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae:

That you will take her in kindly, after the way of the saints, as one who is the Lord's, and give her help in anything in which she may have need of you: because she has been a help to a great number and to myself.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me for the Messiah Jesus,

Who for my life put their necks in danger; to whom not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are in debt:

And say a kind word to the church which is in their house. Give my love to my dear Epaenetus, who is the first fruit of Asia to Christ.

Give my love to Mary, who gave much care to you.

Give my love to Andronicus and Junia, my relations, who were in prison with me, who are noted among the Apostles, and who were in Christ before me.

Give my love to Ampliatus, who is dear to me in the Lord,

Give my love to Apelles, who has the approval of Christ. Say a kind word to those who are of the house of Aristobulus.

Give my love to Herodion, my relation. Say a kind word to those of the house of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.

Give my love to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Give my love to my dear Persis, who did much work in the Lord.

Remember me to Rufus, that choicest Christian, and to his mother, who has been a mother to me too.

Give my love to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.

Give my love to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Now, it is my desire, brothers, that you will take note of those who are causing division and trouble among you, quite against the teaching which was given to you: and keep away from them.

For such people are not servants of the Lord Christ, but of their stomachs; and by their smooth and well-said words the hearts of those who have no knowledge of evil are tricked.

And the God, who brings peace, will soon crush Satan under your feet [i.e., bring an end to the divisive work of the false teachers there]. May the unearned favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Timothy, who is working with me, sends his love to you, so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relations.

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.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now to him who is able to stablish you,

Now to him who is able to make you strong in agreement with the good news which I gave you and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in the light of the revelation of that secret which has been kept through times eternal,