Romans, 10

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

1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

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

2. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.

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

3. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

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

4. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified.

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

5. Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it.

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

6. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down)

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

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

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,

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

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.

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

10. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.

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

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

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,

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

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

13. For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

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?

14. But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?

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.

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

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?

16. But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

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

17. So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.

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.

18. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."

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.

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

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;

20. Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."

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

21. But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."