Romans, 15

1. It is for us who are strong to bear with the susceptibilities of the weaker ones, and not please ourselves.

1. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves;

2. Each of us must consider his neighbour's good, so that we support one another.

2. let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him.

3. Christ did not indulge his own feelings, either; indeed, as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me.

3. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me."

4. And all these things which were written so long ago were written so that we, learning perseverance and the encouragement which the scriptures give, should have hope.

4. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

5. Now the God of perseverance and encouragement give you all the same purpose, following the example of Christ Jesus,

5. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

6. so that you may together give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one heart.

6. that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7. Accept one another, then, for the sake of God's glory, as Christ accepted you.

7. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

8. I tell you that Christ's work was to serve the circumcised, fulfilling the truthfulness of God by carrying out the promises made to the fathers,

8. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

9. and his work was also for the gentiles, so that they should give glory to God for his faithful love; as scripture says: For this I shall praise you among the nations and sing praise to your name.

9. and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name";

10. And in another place it says: Nations, rejoice, with his people,

10. and again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people";

11. and in another place again: Praise the Lord, all nations, extol him, all peoples.

11. and again, "Praise the Lord, all Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him";

12. And in Isaiah, it says: The root of Jesse will appear, he who rises up to rule the nations, and in him the nations will put their hope.

12. and further Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope."

13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in your faith, so that in the power of the Holy Spirit you may be rich in hope.

13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

14. My brothers, I am quite sure that you, in particular, are full of goodness, fully instructed and capable of correcting each other.

14. I myself am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

15. But I have special confidence in writing on some points to you, to refresh your memories, because of the grace that was given to me by God.

15. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God

16. I was given grace to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the gentiles, dedicated to offer them the gospel of God, so that gentiles might become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

16. to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17. So I can be proud, in Christ Jesus, of what I have done for God.

17. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.

18. Of course I can dare to speak only of the things which Christ has done through me to win the allegiance of the gentiles, using what I have said and done,

18. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed,

19. by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. In this way, from Jerusalem and all round, even as far as Illyricum, I have fully carried out the preaching of the gospel of Christ;

19. by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyr'icum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ,

20. and what is more, it has been my rule to preach the gospel only where the name of Christ has not already been heard, for I do not build on another's foundations;

20. thus making it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on another man's foundation,

21. in accordance with scripture: Those who have never been told about him will see him, and those who have never heard about him will understand.

21. but as it is written, "They shall see who have never been told of him, and they shall understand who have never heard of him."

22. That is why I have been so often prevented from coming to see you;

22. This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.

23. now, however, as there is nothing more to keep me in these parts, I hope, after longing for many years past to visit you, to see you when I am on the way to Spain-

23. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,

24. and after enjoying at least something of your company, to be sent on my way with your support.

24. I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be sped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little.

25. But now I have undertaken to go to Jerusalem in the service of the holy people of God there,

25. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints.

26. since Macedonia and Achaia have chosen to make a generous contribution to the poor among God's holy people at Jerusalem.

26. For Macedo'nia and Acha'ia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem;

27. Yes, they chose to; not that they did not owe it to them. For if the gentiles have been given a share in their spiritual possessions, then in return to give them help with material possessions is repaying a debt to them.

27. they were pleased to do it, and indeed they are in debt to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

28. So when I have done this, and given this harvest into their possession, I shall visit you on the way to Spain.

28. When therefore I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been raised, I shall go on by way of you to Spain;

29. I am sure that, when I do come to you, I shall come with the fullest blessing of Christ.

29. and I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ.

30. Meanwhile I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that in your prayers to God for me you exert yourselves to help me;

30. I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

31. praying that I may escape the unbelievers in Judaea, and that the aid I am carrying to Jerusalem will be acceptable to God's holy people.

31. that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

32. Then I shall come to you, if God wills, for a happy time of relaxation in your company.

32. so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

33. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

33. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.