Romanos 15

1 Debemus autem nos firmiores imbecillitates infirmorum sustinere, et non nobis placere.

We, the strong, ought to take on our own shoulders the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not merely to please ourselves.

2 Unusquisque vestrum proximo suo placeat in bonum, ad ædificationem.

Let each of us please our neighbour for our neighbour’s good, to help in the building up of their character.

3 Etenim Christus non sibi placuit, sed sicut scriptum est: Improperia improperantium tibi ceciderunt super me.

Even the Christ did not please himself! On the contrary, as scripture says of him – “The reproaches of those who were reproaching you fell upon me.”

4 Quæcumque enim scripta sunt, ad nostram doctrinam scripta sunt: ut per patientiam, et consolationem Scripturarum, spem habeamus.

Whatever was written in the scriptures in days gone by was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance, and through the encouragement drawn from the scriptures, we might hold fast to our hope.

5 Deus autem patientiæ, et solatii det vobis idipsum sapere in alterutrum secundum Iesum Christum:

And may God, the giver of this patience and this encouragement, grant you to be united in sympathy in Christ,

6 ut unanimes, uno ore honorificetis Deum, et patrem Domini nostri Iesu Christi.

so that with one heart and one voice you may praise the God and Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

7 Propter quod suscipite invicem, sicut et Christus suscepit vos in honorem Dei.

Therefore always receive one another as friends, just as the Christ himself received us, to the glory of God.

8 Dico enim Christum Iesum ministrum fuisse circumcisionis propter veritatem Dei, ad confirmandas promissiones patrum:

For I tell you that Christ, in vindication of God’s truthfulness, has become a minister of the covenant of circumcision, so that he may fulfil the promises made to our ancestors,

9 Gentes autem super misericordia honorare Deum, sicut scriptum est: Propterea confitebor tibi in Gentibus Domine, et nomini tuo cantabo.

and that the Gentiles also may praise God for his mercy. As scripture says – “Therefore will I make acknowledgment to you among the Gentiles and sing in honour of your name.”

10 Et iterum dicit: Lætamini Gentes cum plebe eius.

And again it says – “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with God’s people.”

11 Et iterum: Laudate omnes Gentes Dominum: et magnificate eum omnes populi.

And yet again – “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all Peoples sing his praises.”

12 Et rursus Isaias ait: Erit radix Iesse, et qui exurget regere Gentes, in eum Gentes sperabunt.

Again, Isaiah says – “There will be a Scion of the house of Jesse, One who is to arise to rule the Gentiles; on him will the Gentiles rest their hopes.”

13 Deus autem spei repleat vos omni gaudio, et pace in credendo: ut abundetis in spe, et virtute Spiritus Sancti.

May God, who inspires our hope, grant you perfect happiness and peace in your faith, until you are filled with this hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 Certus sum autem fratres mei et ego ipse de vobis, quoniam et ipsi pleni estis dilectione, repleti omni scientia, ita ut possitis alterutrum monere.

I am persuaded, my friends – yes, I Paul, with regard to you – that you are yourselves full of kindness, furnished with all Christian learning, and well able to give advice to one another.

15 Audacius autem scripsi vobis fratres ex parte, tamquam in memoriam vos reducens: propter gratiam, quæ data est mihi a Deo,

But in parts of this letter I have expressed myself somewhat boldly – by way of refreshing your memories –

16 ut sim minister Christi Iesu in Gentibus: sanctificans Evangelium Dei, ut fiat oblatio Gentium accepta, et sanctificata in Spiritu Sancto.

because of the charge with which God has entrusted me, that I should be an assistant of Christ Jesus to go to the Gentiles – that I should act as a priest of God’s good news, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be an acceptable sacrifice, consecrated by the Holy Spirit.

17 Habeo igitur gloriam in Christo Iesu ad Deum.

It is, then, through my union with Christ Jesus that I have a proud confidence in my work for God.

18 Non enim audeo aliquid loqui eorum, quæ per me non efficit Christus in obedientiam Gentium, verbo et factis:

For I will not dare to speak of anything but what Christ has done through me to win the obedience of the Gentiles –

19 in virtute signorum, et prodigiorum, in virtute Spiritus Sancti: ita ut ab Ierusalem per circuitum usque ad Illyricum repleverim Evangelium Christi.

by my words and actions, through the power displayed in signs and marvels, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. And so, starting from Jerusalem and going as far as Illyria, I have told in full the good news of the Christ;

20 Sic autem prædicavi Evangelium hoc, non ubi nominatus est Christus, ne super alienum fundamentum ædificarem:

yet always with the ambition to tell the good news where Christ’s name had not previously been heard, so as to avoid building on another’s foundations.

21 sed sicut scriptum est: Quibus non est annunciatum de eo, videbunt: et qui non audierunt, intelligent.

But as scripture says – “They to whom he had never been proclaimed will see; and they who have never heard will understand!”

22 Propter quod et impediebar plurimum venire ad vos, et prohibitus sum usque adhuc.

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

23 Nunc vero ulterius locum non habens in his regionibus, cupiditatem autem habens veniendi ad vos ex multis iam præcedentibus annis:

But now there are no further openings for me in these parts, and I have for several years been longing to come to you whenever I may be going to Spain.

24 cum in Hispaniam proficisci cœpero, spero quod præteriens videam vos, et a vobis deducar illuc, si vobis primum ex parte fruitus fuero.

For my hope is to visit you on my journey, and then to be sent on my way by you, after I have first partly satisfied myself by seeing something of you.

25 Nunc igitur proficiscar in Ierusalem ministrare sanctis.

Just now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem, to take help to Christ’s people there.

26 Probaverunt enim Macedonia, et Achaia collationem aliquam facere in pauperes sanctorum, qui sunt in Ierusalem.

For Macedonia and Greece have been glad to make a collection for the poor among Christ’s people at Jerusalem.

27 Placuit enim eis: et debitores sunt eorum. Nam si spiritualium eorum participes facti sunt Gentiles: debent et in carnalibus ministrare illis.

Yes, they were glad to do so; and indeed it is a duty which they owe to them. For the Gentile converts who have shared their spiritual blessings are in duty bound to minister to them in the things of this world.

28 Hoc igitur cum consummavero, et assignavero eis fructum hunc: per vos proficiscar in Hispaniam.

When I have settled this matter, and have secured for the poor at Jerusalem the enjoyment of these benefits, I will go, by way of you, to Spain.

29 Scio autem quoniam veniens ad vos, in abundantia benedictionis Evangelii Christi veniam.

And I know that, when I come to you, it will be with a full measure of blessing from Christ.

30 Obsecro ergo vos fratres per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, et per charitatem Sancti Spiritus, ut adiuvetis me in orationibus vestris pro me ad Deum,

I beg you, then, friends, by Jesus Christ, our Lord, and by the love inspired by the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf.

31 ut liberer ab infidelibus, qui sunt in Iudæa, et obsequii mei oblatio accepta fiat in Ierusalem sanctis,

Pray that I may be rescued from those in Judea who reject the faith, and that the help which I am taking to Jerusalem may prove acceptable to Christ’s people;

32 ut veniam ad vos in gaudio per voluntatem Dei, et refrigerer vobiscum.

so that, God willing, I may be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and enjoy some rest among you.

33 Deus autem pacis sit cum omnibus vobis. Amen.

May God, the giver of peace, be with you all. Amen.