Loma 11
1 He ʻoku ou pehē, Kuo siʻaki ʻe he ʻOtua hono kakai? ʻIkai ʻaupito. He ko e ʻIsileli foki au, mei he hako ʻo ʻEpalahame, ʻi he faʻahinga ʻo Penisimani.
Because of that, [if anyone should ask], “Has God rejected his people [the Jews?” I would declare that] he certainly has not [rejected all of us! You can realize that by remembering that] I also belong to the [people of] Israel. I am a descendant of Abraham, and I belong to the tribe of Benjamin, [but God has not rejected me]!
2 Kuo ʻikai siʻaki ʻe he ʻOtua hono kakai naʻa ne muʻaki ʻilo. ʻIkai te mou ʻilo ʻae lea ʻae tohi kia ʻIlaisiā? ʻA ʻene hanu ki he ʻOtua koeʻuhi ko ʻIsileli, ʻo pehē,
No, God has not rejected his people, whom he chose long ago [to be people whom he would bless in a special way]. Remember [RHQ] what is written [PRS] in the Scriptures about Elijah when he [mistakenly] complained to God about [the people of] Israel, saying,
3 “ʻEiki, kuo nau tāmateʻi hoʻo kau palōfita, pea nau holoki hifo ʻa ho ngaahi ʻesifeilaulau; pea ʻoku ou toe tokotaha pē, pea ʻoku nau kumi ki heʻeku moʻui.”
“Lord, they have killed [the rest of] your [(sg)] prophets, they have destroyed your altars. I am the only one [who believes in you] who remains [alive], and now they are trying to kill me!”
4 Ka ko e hā ʻae folofola naʻe tali ʻaki ia ʻe he ʻOtua? “Kuo u fakatoe kiate au ʻae kau tangata ʻe toko fitu afe, kuo ʻikai te nau tuʻulutui kia Peali.”
God answered him like this: “[You(sg) are not the only one who believes in me]! I have protected for myself [not just you, but] 7,000 [other] men who have not worshipped [the false god] Baal. (Remember that!/Do you not remember that?) [RHQ]”
5 Pea ko eni, ʻoku pehē foki ʻi he kuonga ni, ʻoku ai ʻae toenga ʻo fakatatau ki he fili ʻi he ʻofa.
So, similarly, there is also at this time a small group [of us Jews] who have become [believers. God] has chosen us [to become believers] (OR, [his people]) only because he acts kindly toward us, in ways that we do not deserve.
6 Pea kapau ʻoku ʻi he ʻofa, pea tā ʻoku ʻikai kei ʻi he ngaahi ngāue: ka ʻikai, pea ʻoku ʻikai kei ʻofa ʻae ʻofa. Pea kapau ʻoku ʻi he ngaahi ngāue ia, pehē, ʻoku ʻikai kei ʻi he ʻofa ia: ka ʻikai, tā ʻoku ʻikai kei ko e ngāue ʻae ngāue.
Since it is because he acts kindly [toward those whom he chooses, it is] not because they have done good things [that he has chosen them]. If [God chose people because they did good deeds], then it would not be because he was acting toward them in a way that they did not deserve.
7 Ka ko ia pea hā? Kuo ʻikai lavaʻi ia ʻe ʻIsileli ʻaia ne ne kumi ki ai; ka kuo lavaʻi ia ʻe he kakai kuo fili, pea ko hono toe kuo fakafefeka,
[Since God chose only some people of Israel], [this is what I conclude: [RHQ] Most of the people of] Israel did not find [the way for him to erase the record of their sins], even though some of them were earnestly looking for it. The [people of Israel whom God had] chosen found it, but the rest [of them] were {[God]} made spiritually insensitive/unresponsive.
8 (ʻO hangē ko ia kuo tohi, “Kuo tuku ʻe he ʻOtua kiate kinautolu ʻae laumālie tulemohe, ko e mata kae ʻikai te nau mamata, mo e telinga kae ʻikai te nau fanongo; ) ʻo aʻu ki he ʻaho ni.”
[Our] fellow Jews are just like the [ones] about whom Isaiah wrote, God (caused their senses to be dull/made them unable to think clearly). Up to this very day, [they have] eyes but they cannot see [spiritually] [MET]. [They have] ears, but they cannot understand [spiritually] what they hear.
9 Pea ʻoku pehē ʻe Tevita, “Ke hoko honau keinangaʻanga ko e hele, mo e tauhele, mo e tūkiaʻanga, mo e totongi kiate kinautolu:
And [they remind me of what King] David said, [when he asked God to cause his enemies’ senses to be dull] [MET], [Make them stupid] [MTY], [like animals that are] caught in snares! May they [feel secure because of the things that they enjoy but which will catch them like a] trap [DOU, MET], with the result that you will destroy them.
10 Tuku ke fakapoʻuli honau mata, ke ʻoua naʻa nau mamata, pea mapelu maʻuaipē honau tuʻa.”
May their ability to perceive [danger] be dulled {Dull their ability to perceive [spiritually]} [MET], with the result that they will not [become alarmed] [MET] [when there is danger]. May you cause them to carry heavy loads on their backs continually [as slaves do] [MTY].
11 Pea ʻoku ou pehē, Kuo nau tūkia ke nau mātuʻaki hinga? ʻIkai ʻaupito: ka ʻi heʻenau fai hala [kuo hoko ]ʻae fakamoʻui ki he kakai Senitaile, ke ueʻi ʻakinautolu ki he fuaʻa.
[Perhaps someone will ask], “[When the Jews] sinned [by not believing in Christ, did] it result in their separating themselves from God [permanently?]” Then I [would reply], [No], they have certainly not [separated themselves from God permanently]! What is happening is that because they sinned, [God] is saving non-Jews in order to cause [the Jews] to envy [the way he blesses non-Jews and so ask Christ to save them].
12 Pea ko eni, kapau ko ʻenau fai hala ko e fakakoloaʻia ia ʻo māmani, pea ko honau fakamasivaʻi ko e koloaʻia ʻoe kakai Senitaile; pea ʻe fēfeeʻi ai ʻoka nau ka mahu?
[When the Jews] sinned (OR, rejected Christ), [the result was that God] abundantly [blessed other people in] [MTY] the world by [offering them the opportunity to believe]. And [when the Jews] failed [spiritually, the result was that God] abundantly [blessed] the non-Jews. Since that is true, think how wonderful it will be when the complete number [of the Jews whom God has chosen will believe in Christ] [RHQ]!
13 He ʻoku ou lea kiate kimoutolu ʻae kakai Senitaile, he ko e ʻaposetolo au ʻoe kakai Senitaile, pea ʻoku ou fakaongolelei ʻa ʻeku ngāue:
Now it is to you non-Jews that I am saying [what follows]. I am the one who is the apostle to non-Jews, and I highly esteem this work [that God appointed] me to do.
14 ʻO kapau te u mafai ʻi ha meʻa ke ueʻi ke fuaʻa ʻakinautolu ʻoku ʻo hoku kakano, pea u fakamoʻui honau niʻihi.
But I also hope that [by my labors] I will make my fellow Jews (jealous/want what you non-Jews have), [with the result that] some of them will [believe and] be saved.
15 He kapau ko honau siʻaki, ko e fakalelei ia ʻo māmani, pea ko e hā honau [toe ]maʻu mai, ka ko e moʻui mei he mate?
[God] has rejected [most of my fellow Jews because they refused to believe, with the result that] he reconciled [many other people in] the world [MTY] [to himself]. But he will accept [my fellow Jews again when they trust in Christ]! And (this is what the result will be./do you know what the result will be?) [RHQ] It will be [as though God is making them] alive again after they have been dead!
16 He kapau ʻoku māʻoniʻoni ʻae ʻuluaki fua, ʻoku pehē foki mo hono kotoa: pea kapau ʻoku māʻoniʻoni ʻae tefito, ʻoku pehē mo e ngaahi vaʻa.
[Just like] the whole lump [of dough] will belong to God if [people offer] to God [MET] the [bread baked from] the first part [of it] [MET], [so the Jews will belong to God because their ancestors belonged to God]. And just like the branches [of a tree] will be good if the roots are good [MET], [so the descendants of our great Jewish ancestors who belonged to God will also some day belong to God].
17 Pea kapau ne motuhi ʻae vaʻa niʻihi, pea kuo fakahoko koe kiate kinautolu, ka ko e ʻolive vao pē koe, pea ke maʻu ʻe koe fakataha mo kinautolu hono tefito mo hono huhuʻa ʻoe ʻakau ko e ʻolive;
[God has rejected] many of [the Jews] [MET], [like] branches [of a tree] are broken off {[like people] break off [dead] branches [of a tree]}. And each of you [non-Jews whom God has accepted is like] [MET] [a branch of] a wild/uncultivated olive tree [that] was {[that someone]} grafted among the branches (OR, onto one of the branches) [that were left on a cultivated olive tree]. [God has caused] you [to benefit from how he blessed our(exc) first Jewish ancestors, as branches] benefit from the nutritious sap from the roots of a [cultivated] olive tree [MET].
18 ʻOua naʻa ke polepole ki he ngaahi vaʻa. Pea neongo hoʻo polepole, ʻoku ʻikai ke moʻui ʻae tefito ʻiate koe, ka ko koe ʻi he tefito.
However, you [non-Jews] must not despise [the Jews whom God rejected] [MET], [who are like] the branches that [were broken off from the tree] If any of you [wants to] boast [about having received blessings from God], [remember this: Branches] do not nourish the roots. Instead the roots nourish [the branches] [MET]. [Similarly, you are blessed by God because of what] you [have received from the Jews! It is not what the Jews have received from] you [that blesses them] [MET]!
19 Pea te ke pehē nai, “Ne motuhi ʻae ngaahi vaʻa, koeʻuhi kae fakahoko au.”
If one of you then says, “[God rejected the Jews] [MET] [like] branches [MET] that are broken {that people broke} off [a tree and rejected], in order that [he might accept us non-Jews, as] branches [MET] of a tree are grafted in {[as people] graft in branches of a tree},”
20 Ko e moʻoni; ko e meʻa ʻi he taʻetui naʻe motuhi ʻakinautolu, pea ʻoku ke tuʻu koe ʻi he tui. ʻOua naʻa ke loto lahi, ka ke manavahē:
[I would reply that] this is true. However, it is because the Jews did not believe [in Christ] that they were rejected [MET] {that [God] rejected [MET] them}. As for you, it is [only] because you believe [in Christ] that [God has accepted] you! [So] do not [any of you] become proud, but instead beware [of what could happen to you]
21 He kapau naʻe ʻikai mamae ʻae ʻOtua ki he ngaahi vaʻa totonu, vakai naʻa ʻikai te ne mamae kiate koe.
Since God did not spare [the unbelieving Jews] [MET] [who were like a tree’s] natural branches, he will not spare any of you [if you do] not [keep trusting in him]!
22 Ko ia vakai ki he angalelei mo e houhau ʻoe ʻOtua: ko e houhau kiate kinautolu naʻe hinga; ka ko e angalelei kiate koe, ʻo kapau te ke tuʻumaʻu ʻi he angalelei: ka ʻikai, pea ʻe motuhi ai foki mo koe.
Note then, that God acts kindly, but he also acts severely. He has acted severely toward [the Jews] who have stopped trusting in him. On the other hand, he acts kindly toward each of you [non-Jews only] if you continue [to appreciate his acting] kindly [toward you]. However, you will be rejected {[he] will reject you} if you do not [keep trusting in him].
23 Pea ko kinautolu foki ʻe fakahoko, ʻo kapau ʻe ʻikai te nau nofomaʻu ʻi he taʻetui, he ʻoku faʻa fai ʻe he ʻOtua ke toe fakahoko ʻakinautolu.
And if the Jews believe [in Christ] [LIT], God also will [reunite them to himself as] branches are grafted {[as people] graft branches} into [a tree again], because God is able to do that.
24 He kapau naʻe tutuʻu koe mei he ʻakau ko e ʻolive ʻaia ko hono anga ke tupu vao pē, pea fakahoko koe ki he ʻolive lelei kae ʻikai tatau mo hono anga: ʻe ʻikai faingofua hake ʻae fakahoko ʻoe ʻngaahi vaʻa moʻoni ki honau ʻolive ʻonautolu?
Each of you [non-Jews who were previously separated from God has benefited from the ways in which God blessed the Jews] [MET]. [That is like taking branches] that have been cut {that someone has cut} from a wild olive tree that just grew [without being planted] {[someone planting it]} and, contrary to what people usually do, grafting them into a cultivated olive tree. So God will much more readily [receive back the Jews because they belonged to him before] [MET]! [That will be like] the original branches [that had been cut off] being grafted {like grafting the original branches [that someone cut off], } back into the olive tree to which they [originally belonged]!
25 He ʻoku ʻikai te u loto, ʻe kāinga, ke mou taʻeʻilo ʻae meʻa lilo ni, telia naʻa mou fielahi ʻiate kimoutolu; kuo fakakui ʻae niʻihi ʻo ʻIsileli, kaeʻoua ke hokosia hono fakakātoa mai ʻoe kakai Senitaile.
My [non-Jewish] fellow believers, I certainly want you to understand [LIT] this truth that God has now revealed [about my fellow Jews who are refusing to believe]. You should not proudly think [that] God [now favors you] more [than the Jews] (OR, [that you understand God’s further plans for the Jews]). Many [people of] Israel will continue to be stubborn until all the non-Jews [whom God has chosen have believed in Jesus].
26 Pea ʻe fakamoʻui ʻa ʻIsileli kotoa pē: ʻo hangē ko ia kuo tohi, “ʻE haʻu mei Saione ʻae Fakamoʻui, pea ʻe fakafoki ʻe ia ʻae angahala meia Sēkope:
And then all [HYP] [the people of] Israel will be saved {[God] will save all [HYP] [the people of] Israel}. Then these words that are written {that [a prophet] wrote} [in the Scriptures will] ([become true/be fulfilled]): The one who sets [his people] free will originate from [the place where] God dwells (OR, from the Jews) [MTY]. Then he will remove the guilt of the Israelite people (OR, descendants of Jacob) [MTY].
27 He ko ʻeku fuakava eni mo kinautolu, ʻo kau ka ʻave ʻenau ngaahi angahala.”
And [as God says], The contract that I will make with them is that I will forgive their sins.
28 Ko e ngaahi fili ʻakinautolu ki he ongoongolelei, kae ʻaonga kiate kimoutolu: ka ko e meʻa ʻi he fili, kuo ʻofeina ʻakinautolu koeʻuhi ko e ngaahi tamai.
With regard to [the Jews rejecting] the good message [about Christ, God treats] them as enemies, which has benefited you [non-Jews]. But in regard to [their being the people whom God] chose, [God still] loves them because of [what he promised] their ancestors.
29 He ko e ngaahi foaki mo e ui ʻae ʻOtua, ʻoku ʻikai ha fakatomala ki ai.
[He still loves them], because he never changed his mind about the privileges/blessings he [gave to them] and about his choosing [them to be his people].
30 He ʻoku hangē ko kimoutolu ʻi muʻa, naʻe ʻikai te mou talangofua ki he ʻOtua, ka ko eni kuo mou maʻu ʻae ʻaloʻofa ko e meʻa ʻi heʻenau talangataʻa:
You [non-Jews] once disobeyed God, but now he has acted mercifully towards you because the [Jews] disobeyed him.
31 ʻOku pehē foki, ʻoku ʻikai eni ke talangofua ʻakinautolu ni, ka, ko e meʻa ʻi he ʻaloʻofa kiate kimoutolu, te nau lavaʻi foki ʻae ʻaloʻofa.
Now the Jews have disobeyed God. The result is that by the very same way in which he acted mercifully towards you, he will act mercifully towards them [again].
32 He kuo tuku ʻe he ʻOtua ke moʻua ʻakinautolu kotoa pē ki he talangataʻa, koeʻuhi ka ne ʻaloʻofa ki ai kotoa pē. (eleēsē g1653)
God has declared and proved that all people, [both Jews and non-Jews] [MET], disobey ([him/his laws]). He has declared that because he wants to act mercifully towards us all. (eleēsē g1653)
33 ʻOiauē! Hono loloto ʻoe koloaʻia ʻae poto mo e ʻilo ʻae ʻOtua! ʻOku taʻefaʻaʻeke ʻa ʻene ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni, pea taʻefaʻaʻiloa mo hono ngaahi ʻaluʻanga!
[I marvel how] vast and great are the wise things that God [has done] and what he has [always] known [DOU]! We are completely unable to understand the things that he has decided and the ways [in which he acts toward us] [DOU]!
34 “He ko hai kuo ne ʻilo ʻae finangalo ʻoe ʻEiki? Pe ko hai kuo akonakiʻi kiate ia?
[I remember the Scriptures that say], (No one has known what the Lord thinks./Who has known what the Lord thinks?) [RHQ] (Absolutely no one has given him advice [about what he should do!]/Who has advised him [about what he should do]?) [RHQ]
35 Pea ko hai ne tomuʻa foaki kiate ia, pea ʻe toe totongi ia kiate ia?
And, (No one has given anything to God that [he did not previously receive from God!]/Has anyone given anything to God that [he did not previously receive from God]?) [RHQ] So God (is not obligated to/does not have to) pay back anything to anyone!
36 He [ʻoku tupunga ]meiate ia, pea [ʻoku maʻu pē ]ʻiate ia, pea [ʻe iku ]kiate ia, ʻae ngaahi meʻa kotoa pē: ʻaia ke ʻi ai ʻae fakaʻapaʻapa ʻo taʻengata. ʻEmeni. (aiōn g165)
God [is the one who created] all things. He is also the one who [sustains all things]. The reason that he created them was that [everything he created might praise] him. May [all people] honor him forever! (May it be so!/Amen!) (aiōn g165)
