1 W e then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

We who have strong faith should help those who are weak. We should not live to please ourselves.

2 L et every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Each of us should live to please his neighbor. This will help him grow in faith.

3 F or even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Even Christ did not please Himself. The Holy Writings say, “The sharp words spoken against you fell on Me.”

4 F or whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Everything that was written in the Holy Writings long ago was written to teach us. By not giving up, God’s Word gives us strength and hope.

5 N ow the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Now the God Who helps you not to give up and gives you strength will help you think so you can please each other as Christ Jesus did.

6 T hat ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Then all of you together can thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 W herefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Receive each other as Christ received you. This will honor God.

8 N ow I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Christ came to help the Jews. This proved that God had told the truth to their early fathers. This proved that God would do what He promised.

9 A nd that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

This was done so the people who are not Jews can thank God for His loving-kindness. The Holy Writings say, “This is why I will give thanks to you among the people who are not Jews. I will sing to Your name.”

10 A nd again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

It says also, “You who are not Jews, be happy with His people, the Jews.”

11 A nd again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

And, “Honor and give thanks to the Lord, you who are not Jews. Let everyone honor Him.”

12 A nd again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

And Isaiah says, “There will be One from the family of Jesse Who will be a leader over the people who are not Jews. Their hope will be in Him.”

13 N ow the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him. May your hope grow stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 A nd I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

I am sure you are wise in all things and full of much good. You are able to help and teach each other.

15 N evertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,

I have written to you with strong words about some things. I have written so you would remember. God helped me write like this.

16 T hat I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

I am able to write these things because God made me a missionary to the people who are not Jews. I work as a servant of Jesus Christ. I preach the Good News of God so the people who are not Jews may be as a gift to God. The Holy Spirit will set them apart so God will be pleased with them.

17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

I have reason to be proud of my work for God. It is because I belong to Christ Jesus.

18 F or I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

I can only speak of what Christ has done through me. I have helped the people who are not Jews to obey Him. I have done it by words and by living with them.

19 T hrough mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

God showed them His power through me. The Holy Spirit did powerful works through me in front of them. From Jerusalem to the country of Illyricum I have preached the Good News of Christ.

20 Y ea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

It is my desire to preach the Good News where it has never been preached. I want to preach only where Christ is not known.

21 B ut as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

The Holy Writings say, “Those who have never known about Him will see. And those who have never heard about Him will understand.”

22 F or which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

This is why I have been kept many times from coming to you.

23 B ut now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

But now I am finished with my work here. I have been wanting to come and visit you for many years.

24 W hensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

I hope I can now. I am making plans to go to the country of Spain. On my way there I will stop and visit you. After I have had the joy of visiting you for awhile, you can help me on my way again.

25 B ut now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

But now I am going to Jerusalem to hand the Christians the gift of money.

26 F or it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

The churches in the countries of Macedonia and Greece have decided to give money to help some of the poor Christians in Jerusalem.

27 I t hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

They wanted to do it. They should help them in this way because they owe much to the Christians in Jerusalem. The Jews shared the Good News with the people who are not Jews. For this reason, they should share what they can with the Jews.

28 W hen therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

I will hand this gift of money to them. Then I will stop to see you on my way to the country of Spain.

29 A nd I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

I know that when I come to you, Christ will give me much good to share with you.

30 N ow I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

I ask you from my heart, Christian brothers, to pray much for me. I ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

31 T hat I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

Pray that God will keep me safe from the people in the country of Judea who are not Christians. Pray also that the work I am to do for the Christians in Jerusalem will help them.

32 T hat I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

Then I will be coming to you if God wants me to come. I will be full of joy, and together we can have some rest.

33 N ow the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

May our God Who gives us peace, be with you all. Let it be so.