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

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

3 F or 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 for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 F or 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 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).”

8 B ut 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 t hat 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, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

11 F or the Scripture says, “ Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

12 F or 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 “ Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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

17 S o faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

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