1 ¶ Brethren, certainly the desire of my heart and my prayer to God regarding Israel, is for saving health.

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

2 F or I give testimony that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

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

3 F or they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

For 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.

4 F or Christ is the end of the law, to give righteousness to every one that believes.

For 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.

5 F or Moses describes the righteousness which is by the law, That the man who does those things shall live by them.

For 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.

6 B ut thus saith the righteousness which is by faith, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven (that is, to bring the Christ down from above)?

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

7 O r, Who shall descend into the deep (that is, to bring up the Christ again 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 is near thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach,

But 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,

9 t hat if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Because 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.

10 F or with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto saving health.

For 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.

11 F or the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.

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

12 ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

for 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.

13 F or whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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

14 H ow then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

But 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?

15 A nd how shall they preach if they have not been sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those that announce the gospel of peace, of those that announce the gospel of that which is good!

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

16 B ut not everyone hearkens unto the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report?

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

17 S o then faith comes by hearing, and the ear to hear by the word of God.

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

18 B ut I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their fame went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

But 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.

19 B ut I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, I will provoke you unto jealousy with people that are not mine, and with ignorant people I will provoke you to anger.

Again 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.

20 B ut Isaiah is very bold and says, I was found by those that did not seek me; I manifested myself unto those that did not ask after me.

Then 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.

21 A nd against Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

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