1 B rothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.

2 F or I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

3 F or being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

4 F or Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 F or Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”

6 B ut the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t 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 preach:

9 t hat if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart 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 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, and is rich to 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? How will they hear without a preacher?

15 A nd how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

16 B ut they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”

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

18 B ut I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

19 B ut I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry.”

20 I saiah is very bold, and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.”

21 B ut as to Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”