1 B rethren, my heart’s desire and goodwill for, I long and pray to God that they may be saved.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

2 I bear them witness that they have a zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to knowledge.

For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

3 F or being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God’s righteousness.

For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

4 F or Christ is the end of the Law as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him.

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

5 F or Moses writes that the man who practice the righteousness (perfect conformity to God’s will) which is based on the Law shall live by it.

For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.

6 B ut the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into Heaven? that is, to bring Christ down;

But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “ Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven ?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),

7 O r who will descend into the abyss? that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.

or ‘ Who will descend into the abyss ?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

8 B ut what does it say? The Word (God’s message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word (the message, the basis and object) of faith which we preach,

But what does it say? “ The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart ”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

9 B ecause if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

10 F or with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms salvation.

for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

11 T he Scripture says, No man who believes in Him will be put to shame or be disappointed.

For the Scripture says, “ Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

12 f or there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him.

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

13 F or everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

for “ Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 B ut how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed ? And how are they to believe in Him of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

15 A nd how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings!

How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “ How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

16 B ut they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us?

However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “ Lord, who has believed our report ?”

17 S o faith comes by hearing, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

18 B ut I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.

But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “ Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”

19 A gain I ask, Did Israel not understand? First, there is Moses who says, I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.

But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, “ I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation, By a nation without understanding will I anger you.”

20 T hen Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek Me; I have shown (revealed) Myself to those who did not ask for Me.

And Isaiah is very bold and says, “ I was found by those who did not seek Me, I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

21 B ut of Israel he says, All day long I have stretched out My hands to a people unyielding and disobedient and self-willed.

But as for Israel He says, “ All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”