Romans

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans, chapter 11, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 11 New English Translation

Israel's Rejection not Complete nor Final

   1 So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 "LORD, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life!" 4 But what was the divine response to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal."
   5 So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened, 8 as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day."
   9 And David says, "Let their table become a snare and trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
   10 let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, and make their backs bend continually."
   11 I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?
   13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches.
   17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, 18 do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 Then you will say, "The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20 Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. 22 Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God - harshness toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And even they - if they do not continue in their unbelief - will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?
   25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:"The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
   27 And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins."
   28 In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.
   33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!
   34 For who has known the mind of the LORD, or who has been his counselor?
   35 Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him?
   36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.

King James Version

   1 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 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 have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
   4 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 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
   6 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 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
   8 (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 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
   10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
   11 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 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 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
   14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
   15 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 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
   17 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 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
   19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
   20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
   21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
   22 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 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
   24 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 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 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 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
   28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
   29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
   30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
   31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
   32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
   33 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 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
   35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
   36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.