Romans, 11

1. I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.

1. And so I ask: Has God rejected his people? Of course not. I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

2. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

2. No, God has not rejected the people he knew beforehand. Don't you know what the Scripture says of Elijah when he was accusing Israel before God?

3. Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

3. He said: "Lord, they have killed your prophets, destroyed your altars, and I alone remain; and now they want to kill me."

4. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal.

4. What was God's answer? "I kept for myself seven thousand who did not worship Baal."

5. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

5. In the same way now there is a remnant in Israel, those who were chosen by grace.

6. And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

6. It is said: by grace, not because of what they did. Otherwise grace would not be grace.

7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

7. What then? What Israel was looking for, it did not find, but those whom God elected found it. The others hardened their hearts,

8. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

8. as Scripture says: God made them dull of heart and mind; to this day their eyes cannot see nor their ears hear.

9. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

9. David says: May they be caught and trapped at their banquets; may they fall, may they be punished.

10. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

10. May their eyes be closed so that they cannot see and their backs be bent forever.

11. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

11. Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall? Of course not. Their stumbling allowed salvation to come to the pagan nations and this, in turn, will stir up the jealousy of Israel.

12. Now if the fall of them [be] the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

12. If Israel's shortcoming made the world rich, if the pagan nations grew rich with what they lost, what will happen when Israel is restored?

13. For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

13. Listen to me, you who are not Jews: I am spending myself as an apostle to the pagan nations,

14. If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them.

14. but I hope my ministry will be successful enough to awaken the jealousy of those of my race, and finally to save some of them.

15. For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead?

15. If the world made peace with God when they remained apart, what will it be when they are welcomed? Nothing less than a passing from death to life.

16. For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches.

16. When the first fruits are consecrated to God, the whole is consecrated. If the roots are holy, so will be the branches.

17. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

17. Some branches have been cut from the olive tree, while you, as a wild olive tree, have been grafted in their stead, and you are benefiting from their roots and sap.

18. Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

18. Now therefore, do not be proud and despise the branches, because you do not support the roots, the roots support you.

19. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

19. You may say, "They cut off the branches to graft me."

20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

20. Well and good. But they were cut off because they did not believe, while you stand by faith. Then do not pride yourself on this too much, rather beware:

21. For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.

21. if God did not spare the natural branches, even less will he spare you.

22. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

22. Admire at the same time both the goodness and severity of God: he was severe with the fallen and he is generous with you, as long as you remain faithful. Otherwise you will be cut off.

23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

23. If they do not keep on rejecting the faith they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them back again.

24. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?

24. If you were taken from the wild olive tree to which you belonged and, in spite of being a different species, you were grafted into the good olive tree, it will be much easier and natural for them to be grafted into their own tree.

25. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

25. I want you to understand the mysterious decree of God, lest you be too confident: a part of Israel will remain hardened until the majority of pagans have entered.

26. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

26. Then the whole of Israel will be saved, as Scripture says: From Zion will come the Liberator who will purify the descendants of Jacob from all sin.

27. For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

27. And this is the covenant I will make with them: I will take away from them their sins.

28. As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes.

28. Regarding the Gospel, the Jews are opponents, but it is for your benefit. Regarding election, they are beloved because of their ancestors;

29. For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

29. because the call of God and his gifts cannot be nullified.

30. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

30. Through the rebellion of the Jews the mercy of God came to you who did not obey God.

31. Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

31. They in turn will receive mercy in due time after this rebellion that brought God's mercy to you.

32. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

32. So God has submitted all to disobedience, in order to show his mercy to all.

33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

33. How deep are the riches, the wisdom and knowledge of God! His decisions cannot be explained, nor his ways understood!

34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

34. Who has ever known God's thoughts? Who has ever been his adviser?

35. Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

35. Who has given him something first, so that God had to repay him?

36. For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.

36. For everything comes from him, has been made by him and has to return to him. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.