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

Christian brothers, the desire of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jews might be saved from the punishment of sin.

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

I know about them. They have a strong desire for God, but they do not know what they should about Him.

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.

They have not known how God makes men right with Himself. Instead, they have tried to make their own way. They have not become right with God because they have not done what God said to do.

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

For Christ has put an end to the Law, so everyone who has put his trust in Christ is made right with God.

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

Moses writes that the man who obeys the Law has to 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 when a man puts his trust in Christ, he is made right with God. You do not need to ask yourself, “Who will go up to heaven to bring Christ down?”

7 O r, Who shall descend into the deep (that is, to bring up the Christ again from the dead)?

And you do not need to ask, “Who will go below and 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,

This is what it says, “The Good News is near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart.” This Good News tells about putting your trust in Christ. This is what we preach to you.

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.

If you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved from the punishment of sin.

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

When we believe in our hearts, we are made right with God. We tell with our mouth how we were saved from the punishment of sin.

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

The Holy Writings say, “No one who puts his trust in Christ will ever be put to shame.”

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.

There is no difference between the Jews and the people who are not Jews. They are all the same to the Lord. And He is Lord over all of them. He gives of His greatness to all who call on Him for help.

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

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

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 can they call on Him if they have not put their trust in Him? And how can they put their trust in Him if they have not heard of Him? And how can they hear of Him unless someone tells them?

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 someone tell them if he is not sent? The Holy Writings say, “The feet of those who bring the Good News are beautiful.”

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

But they have not all listened to the Good News. Isaiah says, “Lord, who believed what we told them?”

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

So then, faith comes to us by hearing the Good News. And the Good News comes by someone preaching it.

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.

And so I ask, “Did they not hear?” For sure they did. The Holy Writings say, “Their voice was heard over all the earth. The Good News was told to the ends of the earth.”

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 the Jews not understand?” First of all, Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation. I will make you angry with a foolish nation of people who do not understand.”

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.

Isaiah says even stronger words, “I have been found by men who did not look for Me. I have shown Myself to those who were not asking for Me.”

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

This is what God says about the Jews, “All day long I held out my hand to a people who would not obey Me and who worked against Me.”