1 W e who are strong ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; and not to please ourselves.

2 L et each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him.

3 F or Christ did not please Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me.

4 F or whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by endurance and the encouragement from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope.

5 N ow may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

6 T hat together you may with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

7 W elcome and receive one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God.

8 F or I tell you that Christ (the Messiah) became a servant and a minister to the circumcised (the Jews) in order to show God’s truthfulness and honesty by confirming (verifying) the promises to our fathers,

9 A nd that the Gentiles (nations) might glorify God for His mercy to them. As it is written, Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles and sing praises to Your name.

10 A gain it is said, Rejoice (exult), O Gentiles, along with His people;

11 A nd again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him!

12 A nd further Isaiah says, There shall be a Sprout from the Root of Jesse, He Who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles hope.

13 M ay the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

14 P ersonally I am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are rich in goodness, amply filled with all knowledge and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another also.

15 S till on some points I have written to you the more boldly and unreservedly by way of reminder. because of the grace (the unmerited favor) bestowed on me by God

16 I n making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I act in the priestly service of the Gospel (the good news) of God, in order that the sacrificial offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, consecrated and made holy by the Holy Spirit.

17 I n Christ Jesus, then, I have legitimate reason to glory (exult) in my work for God.

18 F or I will not venture (presume) to speak thus of any work except what Christ has actually done through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed,

19 w ith the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit. that starting from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) in its entirety.

20 T hus my ambition has been to preach the Gospel, not where Christ’s name has already been known, lest I build on another man’s foundation;

21 B ut as it is written, They shall see who have never been told of Him, and they shall understand who have never heard.

22 T his is the reason why I have so frequently been hindered from coming to visit you.

23 B ut now since I have no further opportunity for work in these regions, and since I have longed for enough years to come to you,

24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be aided on my journey there by you, after I have enjoyed your company for a little while.

25 F or the present, however, I am going to Jerusalem to bring aid (relief) for the saints (God’s people there).

26 F or it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make some contribution for the poor among the saints of Jerusalem.

27 T hey were pleased to do it; and surely they are in debt to them, for if these Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, then they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

28 W hen therefore I have completed this mission and have delivered to them what has been raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain.

29 A nd I know that when I do come to you, I shall come in the abundant blessing of the Gospel of Christ.

30 I appeal to you, brethren, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love the Spirit, to unite with me in earnest wrestling in prayer to God in my behalf.

31 t hat I may be delivered (rescued) from the unbelievers in Judea and that my mission of relief to Jerusalem may be acceptable and graciously received by the saints (God’s people there),

32 S o that by God’s will I may subsequently come to you with joy (with a happy heart) and be refreshed in your company.

33 M ay peace-giving God be with you all! Amen (so be it).