Romans 11
1 But then I ask, “Has God rejected his people?” Of course not! I'm an Israelite myself, from the tribe of Benjamin.
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God has not rejected his chosen people. Don't you recall what Scripture says about Elijah? How he complained about Israel to God, saying,
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 “Lord they've killed your prophets and destroyed your altars. I'm the only one left, and they're trying to kill me too!”
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 How did God answer him? “I still have seven thousand left who have not worshiped Baal.”
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal.
5 Today it's just the same: there are still some faithful people left, chosen by God's grace.
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And since it's through grace, then clearly it's not based on what people do, otherwise grace wouldn't be grace!
And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7 So what do we conclude? That the people of Israel didn't achieve what they were striving for—only the chosen, while the rest became hard-hearted.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
8 As Scripture says, “God dulled their minds so their eyes could not see and their ears could not hear, to this very day.”
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; ) unto this day.
9 David adds, “May their feasts become a trap for them, a net that catches them, a temptation that brings punishment.
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10 May their eyes become blind so they cannot see, and may their backs always be bent low in dejection.”
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
11 So am I saying that they stumbled and consequently failed completely? Not at all! But as a result of their mistakes, salvation came to other nations, to “make them jealous.”
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if even their failure benefits the world, and their loss profits the foreigners, how much more beneficial it would be if they were to completely fulfill what they were meant to be.
Now if the fall of them [be] the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13 Now let me speak to you foreigners. Insofar as I'm a missionary to foreigners, I promote what I'm doing
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 that somehow I might make my people jealous and save some of them.
If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them.
15 If the result of God's rejection of them is that the world becomes God's friends, the result of God's acceptance of them would be like the dead coming back to life!
For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead?
16 If the first part of the bread dough given as an offering is holy, then so is all the rest; if the roots of a tree are holy, then so are the branches.
For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches.
17 Now if some of the branches have been broken off, and you—a wild olive shoot—have been grafted in, and have shared with them the benefit of nourishment from the olive tree's roots,
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 then you shouldn't look down on the other branches. If you're tempted to boast, remember it's not you who are supporting the roots, but the roots that are supporting you.
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 You could make the claim, “Branches were broken off so I could be grafted in.”
Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 All well and good—but they were broken off because of their failure to trust in God, and you stay there because you trust in God. So don't think highly of yourselves, but be respectful,
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 because if God didn't spare the original branches, he won't spare you either.
For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.
22 You should recognize both God's kindness and toughness—he was tough on the fallen, but God is kind to you so long as you trust in his kindness—otherwise you'll be removed too.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 If they no longer refuse to trust in God, they can be grafted in as well, for God is able to graft them back in again.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24 If you could be cut from a wild olive tree, and then be grafted artificially onto a cultivated olive tree, how much more easily they could be grafted back naturally to their own tree.
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?
25 I don't want you, my brothers and sisters to miss this previously-hidden truth, for otherwise you could become conceited. The people of Israel have become hard-hearted in part, until the process of the foreigners coming in is complete.
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 This is how all Israel will be saved. As Scripture says, “The Savior will come from Zion, and he will turn Jacob away from his opposition to God.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 My promise to them is that I'll take away their sins.”
For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 Though they are enemies of the good news—and this is to your benefit—they are still the chosen people, and loved because of their forefathers.
As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
29 God's gifts and his calling can't be withdrawn.
For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
30 At one time you disobeyed God, but now God has shown you mercy as a result of their disobedience.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 In just the same way that they're now disobedient as you were, they will also be shown mercy like you received.
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God treated everyone as prisoners because of their disobedience so that he could be merciful to everyone. (eleēsē g1653)
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (eleēsē g1653)
33 Oh how deep are God's riches, wisdom, and knowledge! How incredible his decisions, how unimaginable his methods!
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 Who can know God's thoughts? Who can give him advice?
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35 Who has ever given anything to God that God would be obliged to repay?
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
