I.  

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, set apart unto the gospel of God, 2which he before announced through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4who was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord; 5through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all the nations, for his name's sake; 6among whom are ye also, called of Jesus Christ; 7to all the beloved of God that are in Rome, called to be saints: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of in all the world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10making request, if haply now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12that is, to be comforted together among you, by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

13Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that often-times I purposed to come to you (but was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit among you also, as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14I am debtor both to Greeks and Barbarians; both to wise and unwise. 15So, as far as lies in me, I am ready to preach the good news to you also who are at Rome. 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is revealed a righteousness of God, from faith to faith; as it is written: The just shall live by faith.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it to them. 20For, from the creation of the world, his invisible things are clearly seen, being perceived by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. 21Because, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, nor gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools; 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, to dishonor their bodies among themselves; 25who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26For this cause God gave them up to vile passions; for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature; 27and in like manner the men also, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was meet.

28And as they did not choose to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not becoming; 29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30slanderers, haters of God, overbearing, proud, boasters, devisers of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; 32who, knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those who do them.

II.  

Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2Now we know that the judgment of God is according to truth, upon those who commit such things. 3And reckonest thou this, O man, that judgest those who do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God is leading thee to repentance; 5and after thy hardness and impenitent heart, art treasuring up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6who will render to every man according to his deeds; 7to those who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8but to those who are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9tribulation and distress, upon every soul of man that works evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; 10but glory, and honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

11For there is no respect of persons with God. 12For as many as sinned without law shall also perish without law; and as many as sinned with law shall be judged by law; 13(for not the hearers of law are just before God, but the doers of law shall be justified: 14for when Gentiles, who have no law, do by nature the things required by law, these, having no law, are a law to themselves; 15who show the work of law written in their hearts, their conscience witnessing therewith, and their thoughts alternately accusing, or also excusing;) 16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

17But if thou art called a Jew, and restest upon law, and makest thy boast in God, 18and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law; 21thou then, that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? Thou that preachest, a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22Thou that sayest, a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23Thou that makest thy boast in law, through the transgression of the law dishonorest thou God? 24For, the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written.

25For circumcision indeed profits, if thou keep the law; but if thou art a transgressor of law, thy circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26If then the uncircumcision keep the requirements of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27And shall not the uncircumcision that is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of law? 28For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; nor is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. 29But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

III.  

What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2Much every way; first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God. 3For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make void the faithfulness of God? 4Far be it! Yea, let God be true and every man a liar; as it is written:

That thou mayest be justified in thy words,

And mayest overcome when thou art judged.

5But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man.) 6Far be it! For then how shall God judge the world? 7For if the truth of God through my lie, abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8And why not, as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say: Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose judgment is just.

9What then? Are we better? No, in no wise; for we before charged, that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. 10As it is written: There is none righteous, no, no one; 11there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, there is not so much as one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; 14whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17and the way of peace they have not known. 18There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Because by works of law no flesh shall be justified in his sight; for by law is the knowledge of sin.

21But now, apart from law, a righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22a righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all that believe; (for there is no difference; 23for all sinned, and come short of the glory of God;) 24being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 25whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith by his blood, for the exhibition of his righteousness, because of the passing over of the sins before committed in the forbearance of God; 26for the exhibition of his righteousness in this present time, that he may be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.

27Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. 28Therefore we reckon that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. Is he the God of Jews only? 29Is he not also of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also; 30seeing that God is one, who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith. 31Do we then make void law through the faith? Far be it! Yea, we establish law.

IV.  

What then shall we say that Abraham our father found, as pertaining to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has ground of boasting; but not before God. 3For what says the Scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. 4Now to him that works, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as a debt. 5But to him that works not, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6As also David speaks of the happiness of the man, to whom God reckons righteousness, apart from works:

7Happy they, whose iniquities were forgiven,

And whose sins were covered;

8Happy the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin!

9Comes this happiness then on the circumcision, or also on he uncircumcision? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10How then was it reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while in uncircumcision; that he might be father of all that believe while in uncircumcision, that the righteousness might be reckoned to them also, 12and father of circumcision to those who are not only of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had while in uncircumcision.

13For not through law was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if they that are of law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15For the law works wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there transgression. 16For this cause it is of faith, that it may be by grace; in order that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17(as it is written: A father of many nations have I made thee,) before God whom he believed, who quickens the dead, and calls the things that are not as though they were; 18who against hope believed in hope, that he should become father of many nations, according to that which was spoken: So shall thy seed be. 19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body already dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20And in respect to the promise of God he wavered not through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully persuaded, that what he has promised he is able also to perform. 22Wherefore also it was reckoned to him for righteousness.

23And it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned to him; 24but for ours also, to whom it shall be reckoned, if we believe on him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised for our justification.

V.  

Being justified therefore by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2through whom also we obtained the access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we rejoice in afflictions also; knowing that affliction works patience; 4and patience approval; and approval hope; 5and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God has been poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Spirit which was given to us.

6For when we were yet without strength, in due season Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; though, for the good man, perhaps some one does even dare to die. 8But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath through him. 10For if, being enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son; much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; 11and not only so, but also rejoicing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all sinned; 13(for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14But yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who sinned not after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a type of him who was to come.

15But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift; for if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

16And not as through one that sinned, is the gift; for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification. 17For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more they who receive the abundance of the grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.)

18So then, as through one trespass it came upon all men unto condemnation; so also through one righteous act it came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as through the disobedience of the one man the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the one will the many be constituted righteous.

20Moreover the law came in also, that the trespass might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; 21that as sin reigned in death, so also might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

VI.  

What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2Far be it! How shall we who died to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that all we who were immersed into Jesus Christ were immersed into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by the immersion into his death; that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have become united with the likeness of his death, we shall be also with that of his resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, in order that we should no longer be in bondage to sin. 7For he that died has been justified from sin. 8And if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; 9knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more; death has dominion over him no more. 10For in that he died, he died to sin once; but in that he lives, he lives to God. 11So also reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ.

12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof; 13nor yield your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but yield yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under law, but under grace.

15What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under grace? Far be it! 16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17But thanks be to God, that ye were servants of sin, but obeyed from the heart that form of teaching which was delivered to you; 18and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

19I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as ye yielded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity; so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto sanctification. 20For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free as to righteousness. 21What fruit therefore had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22But now, being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end everlasting life. 23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

VII.  

Know ye not, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for so long a time as he lives? 2For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives; but if the husband die, she is loosed from the law of the husband. 3So then if, while the husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she be married to another man.

4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, in order that ye should be married to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God. 5For when we were in the flesh, the emotions of sins, which were by the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

7What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Far be it! But I had not known sin, except through law; for I had not known coveting, if the law had not said: Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of coveting. For without law, sin is dead.

9And I was alive without law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was for life, that I found to be for death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13Has then that which is good become death to me? Far be it! But sin, that it might appear sin, working death to me by that which is good, that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

14For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For what I perform, I know not; for not what I desire, that do I; but what I hate, that I do. 16But if what I desire not, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.

17Now then, it is no longer I that perform it, but the sin that dwells in me.

18For I know that there dwells not in me, that is, in my flesh, any good; for to desire is present with me; but to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I desire, I do not; but the evil that I desire not, that I do. 20But if what I desire not, that I do, it is no more I that perform it, but the sin that dwells in me.

21I find then the law, that, when I desire to do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then I myself with the mind serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

VIII.  

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; 4that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 5For they that are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it does not submit itself to the law of God, neither indeed can it; 8and they that are in the flesh can not please God.

9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ is in you, the body indeed is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwells in you.

12So that, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if ye live according to the flesh, ye shall die; but if by the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. 15For ye did not receive the spirit of bondage, again to fear; but ye received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God; 17and if children, also heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are of no account, in comparison with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest longing of the creation is waiting for the revelation of the sons of God. 20For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly (but by reason of him who made it subject), in hope 21that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. 23And not only so, but ourselves also, though we have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

24For we were saved in hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man sees, why does he also hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, we with patience wait for it. 26And in like manner does the Spirit also help our weakness; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered. 27And he who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 29Because whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. 30And whom he predestined, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who shall be against us? 32He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's chosen? God is he that justifies; 34who is he that condemns? Christ is he that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written:

For, for thy sake we are killed all the day long;

We were accounted as sheep for slaughter.

37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, 39neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

IX.  

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2that I have great grief and continual anguish in my heart. 3For I myself could wish to be accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh; 4who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service, and the promises; 5whose are the fathers, and of whom as to the flesh is Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

6Not as though the word of God has failed. For not all they are Israel, who are of Israel; 7neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8That is, not they who are the children of the flesh are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned as seed. 9For the word of promise is this: At this season I will come, and Sarah shall have a son. 10And not only so; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, our father Isaac 11(for they being not yet born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls), 12it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written:

Jacob I loved,

But Esau I hated.

14What then shall we say? Is there unrighteousness with God? Far be it! 15For he says to Moses: I will have mercy on whomsoever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomsoever I have compassion. 16So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy, 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: Even for this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show forth my power in thee, and that my name might be declared in all the earth. 18So that, on whom he will he has mercy, and whom he will he hardens.

19Thou wilt say then to me: Why then does he yet find fault? For who resists his will? 20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it: Why didst thou make me thus?

21Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? 22And what if God, willing to show forth his wrath, and to make known his power, endured with much long-suffering vessels of wrath fitted for destruction; 23and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared for glory; 24whom he also called, even us, not from among the Jews only, but also from among the Gentiles? 25As also he says in Hosea:

I will call them my people, who were not my people;

And her beloved, who was not beloved.

26And it shall be, that in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called, Sons of the living God. 27And Isaiah cries concerning Israel:

Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea,

The remnant shall be saved;

28For he will finish the work,

And cut it short in righteousness;

Because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

29And as Isaiah has said before:

Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed,

We had become as Sodom,

And been made like to Gomorrah.

30What then shall we say? That Gentiles, who were not following after righteousness, obtained righteousness, the righteousness which is of faith; 31but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, attained not to [such] a law. 32Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as being by works of law. For they stumbled against the stone of stumbling; 33as it is written: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame.

X.  

Brethren, it is my heart's desire and prayer to God on their behalf, that they might be saved. 2For I bear them witness, that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For not knowing the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, to every one that believes.

5For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law: The man that has done them, shall live by them. 6But the righteousness which is of faith says thus: Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down;) 7or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring up Christ from the dead.) 8But what says it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9because, if thou shalt profess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth profession is made unto salvation. 11For the Scripture says: Whoever believes on him shall not be put to shame. 12For there is no difference between Jew and Greek; for the same is Lord of all, rich toward all that call upon him; 13for every one who shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14How then shall they call on him on whom they believed not? And how shall they believe on him of whom they heard not? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, unless they are sent forth? As it is written:

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!

16But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah says: Lord, who believed our report? 17So then faith comes of hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18But I say, did they not hear? Yes verily;

Their sound went forth into all the earth,

And their words unto the ends of the world.

19But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:

I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are no people,

By a foolish nation I will move you to anger.

20But Isaiah is very bold, and says:

I was found by those who sought me not;

I became manifest to those who asked not after me.

21But of Israel he says:

All the day long, I stretched forth my hands,

To a disobedient and gainsaying people.

XI.  

I say then, did God cast away his people? Far be it! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know ye not what the Scripture says in the story of Elijah; how he pleads with God against Israel, saying: 3Lord they killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I was left alone, and they seek my life. 4But what says the answer of God to him? I reserved to myself seven thousand men, who bowed not the knee to Baal.

5Even so then, at this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6And if by grace, it is no longer of works; otherwise, grace becomes no longer grace. [But if of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise, work is no longer work.]

7What then? What Israel seeks after, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. 8According as it is written: God gave them a spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day. 9And David says:

Let their table be made a snare, and a trap,

And a stumbling-block, and a recompense to them;

10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see,

And bow down their back alway.

11I say then, did they stumble in order that they should fall? Far be it! But by their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. 12But if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fullness?

13For I am speaking to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office; 14if by any means I may provoke to emulation those who are my flesh, and may save some of them. 15For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16And if the first-fruit is holy, so also is the lump; and if the root is holy, so also are the branches. 17And if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive-tree, wert grafted in among them, and became a partaker with them of the root and the fatness of the olive-tree; 18boast not over the branches. But if thou boast, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.

19Thou wilt say then: The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20Well; because of their want of faith they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; 21for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22Behold then the goodness and severity of God; toward those who fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise, thou also shalt be cut off. 23And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in; for God is able again to graft them in. 24For if thou wast cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive-tree; how much more shall these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?

25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that hardness has come upon Israel in part, until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. 26And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written: There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27and this is the covenant from me to them, when I shall take away their sins. 28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but as concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29For unrepented are the gifts and the calling of God. 30For as ye in times past disobeyed God, but now obtained mercy through their disobedience; 31so also they now disobeyed through the mercy shown to you, that they also might obtain mercy. 32For God included all in disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

33Oh, the depth of the riches, and wisdom, and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34For,

Who knew the mind of the Lord?

Or who became his counselor?

35Or who first gave to him, and it shall be given back to him again? 36For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things; to him be the glory forever. Amen.

XII.  

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your rational service. 2And be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may discern what is the will of God, the good, and well pleasing, and perfect.

3For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God imparted to each one the measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office; 5so we, the many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. 6And having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of our faith; 7or ministry, [let us wait] on the ministry; or he that teaches, on the teaching; 8or he that exhorts, on the exhortation; he that gives, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that presides, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9Let love be unfeigned. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In brotherly love, 10be kindly affectioned one to another; in honor, preferring one another; 11in diligence, not slothful; in spirit, fervent, serving the Lord; 12in hope, rejoicing; in affliction, patient; in prayer, persevering; 13communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless, and curse not. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind one toward another. Aspire not to things that are high, but condescend to the lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17Recompense to no one evil for evil. Provide things honorable in the sight of all men. 18If it be possible, as far as depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath [of God]. For it is written: To me belongs vengeance; I will recompense, saith the Lord. 20Therefore,

If thy enemy hungers, feed him;

If he thirsts, give him drink.

For, in doing this,

Thou wilt heap coals of fire on his head.

21Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

XIII.  

Let every soul submit himself to the higher powers. For there is no power but from God; the powers that be have been ordained by God. 2So that he who resists the power, resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist will receive to themselves condemnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. And dost thou wish not to be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou wilt have praise from it; 4for he is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil. 5Wherefore it is necessary to submit yourselves, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

6For, for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attending continually to this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8Owe no one anything, but to love one another; for he that loves another has fulfilled the law. 9For this: Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10Love works no ill to one's neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11And that, knowing the time, that it is high time that we already were awaked out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far advanced, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in lewdness and wantonness, not in strife and envying; 14but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

XIV.  

Him that is weak in faith receive; not for the decision of disputes. 2For one believes, that he may eat all things; but he that is weak eats herbs. 3Let not him that eats despise him that eats not; and let not him that eats not judge him that eats; for God received him. 4Who art thou that judgest another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. But he shall be made to stand; for God is able to make him stand.

5One man esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each one be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6He that regards the day, regards it to the Lord; and he that eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he that eats not, to the Lord he eats not, and gives thanks to God.

7For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. 8For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9For to this end Christ died, and lived, that he might be Lord of both the dead and living.

10But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God. 11For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then, each one of us shall give account of himself to God.

13Let us therefore no longer judge one another; but judge this rather, not to put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in a brother's way. 14I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; but to him that accounts anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15But if because of food thy brother is grieved, thou no longer walkest in accordance with love. Destroy not him by thy food, for whom Christ died. 16Let not then your good be evil spoken of. 17For the kingdom of God is not food and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18For he that in these things serves Christ, is well pleasing to God, and approved by men.

19So then, let us follow after the things which make for peace, and things by which one may edify another. 20For the sake of food destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eats with offense. 21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbles, or is made to offend, or is weak. 22Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that judges not himself in that which he allows. 23And he that doubts is condemned if he eat, because it is not of faith; and all that is not of faith is sin.

XV.  

Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let each one of us please his neighbor, for his good, to edification. 3For also Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written: The reproaches of those who reproached thee, fell on me. 4For whatever things were written afore-time were for our instruction, that we through patience and consolation of the Scriptures may have hope. 5And the God of patience and consolation grant you to be of the same mind one with another, according to Christ Jesus; 6that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 8For I say that Jesus Christ has been made a minister of the circumcision, for the sake of God's truth, in order to confirm the promises made to the fathers; 9and that the Gentiles should glorify God for his mercy; as it is written:

For this cause I will give thee praise among Gentiles.

And to thy name will sing.

10And again he says:

Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

11And again:

Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles;

And extol him, all ye peoples.

12And again, Isaiah says:

There shall be the root of Jesse,

And he who rises up to rule the Gentiles;

On him will Gentiles hope.

13And the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15But I wrote the more boldly to you, brethren, in part as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me by God; 16that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest in the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17I have therefore my glorying in Christ Jesus, as to things pertaining to God. 18For I will not dare to speak of any of the things which Christ wrought not through me, to bring the Gentiles to obedience, by word and deed, 19in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the good news of Christ; 20being emulous so to preach the good news, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another's foundation; 21but as it is written:

They to whom it was not announced concerning him shall see,

And they that have not heard shall understand.

22For which cause also, for the most part, I was hindered from coming to you. 23But now having no longer place in these regions, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24whenever I go into Spain, I hope to see you in my journey, and to be sent forward thither by you, if first I shall be satisfied in a measure with your company.

25But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26For Macedonia and Achaia thought it good, to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who were at Jerusalem. 27For they thought it good; and their debtors are they. For if the Gentiles shared in their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in carnal things. 28When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go by you into Spain. 29And I know that, when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

30And I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 31that I may be delivered from the unbelieving in Judæa, and that my service which is for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; 32that with joy I may come to you by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 33And the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

XVI.  

I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchræa; 2that ye receive her in the Lord as becomes saints, and assist her in whatever business she may have need of you; for she has been a helper of many, and of myself.

3Salute Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-laborers in Christ Jesus 4(who for my life laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles), 5and salute the church that is in their house.

Salute Epenetus, my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ.

6Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on us.

7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

8Salute Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.

9Salute Urbanus, our fellow-laborer in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

10Salute Apelles, the approved in Christ.

Salute those of the household of Aristobulus.

11Salute Herodion my kinsman.

Salute those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.

12Salute Tryphæna and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord.

Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.

13Salute Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

14Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hernias, and the brethren who are with them.

15Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

16Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.

17Now I beseech you, brethren, to mark those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the teaching which ye learned, and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you; but I would have you wise as to that which is good, and simple as to that which is evil. 20And the God of peace will shortly bruise Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

21Timothy, my fellow-laborer, salutes you, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

22I, Tertius, who wrote the letter, salute you in the Lord.

23Gaius my host, and of the whole church, salutes you.

Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutes you, and Quartus the brother.

24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25Now to him who is able to establish you, according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept in silence during eternal ages 26but now made manifest, and through the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, made known to all nations for obedience to the faith, 27to God only wise, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.