Epistula ad Romanos, 10

1. Fratres, voluntas quidem cordis mei et obsecratio ad Deum pro illis in salutem.

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

2. Testimonium enim perhibeo illis quod aemulationem Dei habent sed non secundum scientiam;

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

3. ignorantes enim Dei iustitiam et suam iustitiam quaerentes statuere, iustitiae Dei non sunt subiecti;

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. finis enim legis Christus ad iustitiam omni credenti.

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

5. Moyses enim scribit de iustitia, quae ex lege est: “Qui fecerit homo, vivet in eis”.

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

6. Quae autem ex fide est iustitia, sic dicit: “Ne dixeris in corde tuo: Quis ascendet in caelum?”, id est Christum deducere;

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. aut: “Quis descendet in abyssum?”, hoc est Christum ex mortuis revocare.

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

8. Sed quid dicit? “Prope te est verbum, in ore tuo et in corde tuo”; hoc est verbum fidei, quod praedicamus.

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. Quia si confitearis in ore tuo: “Dominum Iesum!”, et in corde tuo credideris quod Deus illum excitavit ex mortuis, salvus eris.

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. Corde enim creditur ad iustitiam, ore autem confessio fit in salutem.

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

11. Dicit enim Scriptura: “Omnis, qui credit in illo, non confundetur”.

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

12. Non enim est distinctio Iudaei et Graeci, nam idem Dominus omnium, dives in omnes, qui invocant illum:

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. Omnis enim, quicumque invocaverit nomen Domini, salvus erit.

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

14. Quomodo ergo invocabunt, in quem non crediderunt? Aut quomodo credent ei, quem non audierunt? Quomodo autem audient sine praedicante?

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. Quomodo vero praedicabunt nisi mittantur? Sicut scriptum est: “Quam speciosi pedes evangelizantium bona”.

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. Sed non omnes oboedierunt evangelio; Isaias enim dicit: “Domine, quis credidit auditui nostro?”.

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

17. Ergo fides ex auditu, auditus autem per verbum Christi.

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

18. Sed dico: Numquid non audierunt? Quin immo, in omnem terram exiit sonus eorum, et in fines orbis terrae verba eorum.

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. Sed dico: Numquid Israel non cognovit? Primus Moyses dicit: “Ego ad aemulationem vos adducam per Non gentem: per gentem insipientem ad iram vos provocabo”.

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. Isaias autem audet et dicit: “Inventus sum in non quaerentibus me; palam apparui his, qui me non interrogabant”.

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. Ad Israel autem dicit: “Tota die expandi manus meas ad populum non credentem et contradicentem”.

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