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

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

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

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3 T hey 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.

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

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

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5 M oses writes that the man who obeys the Law has to live by it.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6 B ut 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?”

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above: )

7 A nd you do not need to ask, “Who will go below and bring Christ up from the dead?”

or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8 T his 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.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 I f 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.

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

10 W hen 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.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

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

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 T here 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.

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.

13 F or everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved from the punishment of sin.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 B ut 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?

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

15 A nd 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.”

and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

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

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

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

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 A nd 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.”

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19 A gain 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.”

But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

20 I saiah 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.”

But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

21 T his 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.”

But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.