Romans, 10

1. Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God on their behalf is for salvation.

1. Brothers, my dearest wish and my prayer to God is for them, that they may be saved.

2. I testify with regard to them that they have zeal for God, but it is not discerning.

2. I readily testify to their fervour for God, but it is misguided.

3. For, in their unawareness of the righteousness that comes from God and their attempt to establish their own (righteousness), they did not submit to the righteousness of God.

3. Not recognising God's saving justice they have tried to establish their own, instead of submitting to the saving justice of God.

4. For Christ is the end of the law for the justification of everyone who has faith.

4. But the Law has found its fulfilment in Christ so that all who have faith will be justified.

5. Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from (the) law, "The one who does these things will live by them."

5. Moses writes of the saving justice that comes by the Law and says that whoever complies with it will find life in it.

6. But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will go up into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down)

6. But the saving justice of faith says this: Do not think in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven?' --

7. or 'Who will go down into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."

7. that is to bring Christ down; or 'Who will go down to the depths?' -- that is to bring Christ back from the dead.

8. But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we preach),

8. What does it say, then? The word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith, the faith which we preach,

9. for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

9. that if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved.

10. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

10. It is by believing with the heart that you are justified, and by making the declaration with your lips that you are saved.

11. For the scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."

11. When scripture says: No one who relies on this will be brought to disgrace,

12. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him.

12. it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: the same Lord is the Lord of all, and his generosity is offered to all who appeal to him,

13. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

13. for all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

14. But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?

14. How then are they to call on him if they have not come to believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard of him? And how will they hear of him unless there is a preacher for them?

15. And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring (the) good news!"

15. And how will there be preachers if they are not sent? As scripture says: How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news.

16. But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?"

16. But in fact they have not all responded to the good news. As Isaiah says: Lord, who has given credence to what they have heard from us?

17. Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

17. But it is in that way faith comes, from hearing, and that means hearing the word of Christ.

18. But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for "Their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."

18. Well then, I say, is it possible that they have not heard? Indeed they have: in the entire earth their voice stands out, their message reaches the whole world.

19. But I ask, did not Israel understand? First Moses says: "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will make you angry."

19. Well, another question, then: is it possible that Israel did not understand? In the first place Moses said: I shall rouse you to jealousy with a non-people, I shall exasperate you with a stupid nation.

20. Then Isaiah speaks boldly and says: "I was found (by) those who were not seeking me; I revealed myself to those who were not asking for me."

20. And Isaiah is even bold enough to say: I have let myself be found by those who did not seek me; I have let myself be seen by those who did not consult me;

21. But regarding Israel he says, "All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contentious people."

21. and referring to Israel, he says: All day long I have been stretching out my hands to a disobedient and rebellious people.