To the Romans
11 I ask, then, God did not reject his people, did he?+ Never may that happen! For I also am an Israelite,+ of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.+ 2 God did not reject his people, whom he first recognized.*+ Why, do YOU not know what the Scripture says in connection with E·liʹjah, as he pleads with God against Israel?+ 3 “Jehovah,* they have killed your prophets, they have dug up your altars, and I alone am left, and they are looking for my soul.”*+ 4 Yet, what does the divine pronouncement+ say to him? “I have left seven thousand men over for myself, [men] who have not bent the knee to Baʹal.”+ 5 In this way, therefore, at the present season also a remnant+ has turned up according to a choosing+ due to undeserved kindness. 6 Now if it is by undeserved kindness,+ it is no longer due to works;+ otherwise, the undeserved kindness no longer proves to be undeserved kindness.+
7 What, then? The very thing Israel is earnestly seeking he did not obtain,+ but the ones chosen*+ obtained it. The rest had their sensibilities blunted;+ 8 just as it is written: “God* has given them a spirit of deep sleep,+ eyes so as not to see and ears so as not to hear, down to this very day.”+ 9 Also, David says: “Let their table* become for them a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a retribution;+ 10 let their eyes become darkened so as not to see, and always bow down their back.”+
11 Therefore I ask, Did they stumble so that they fell+ completely? Never may that happen! But by their false step+ there is salvation to people of the nations,+ to incite them to jealousy.+ 12 Now if their false step means riches to the world, and their decrease means riches to people of the nations,+ how much more will the full number*+ of them mean it!
13 Now I speak to YOU who are people of the nations. Forasmuch as I am, in reality, an apostle+ to the nations,+ I glorify+ my ministry,+ 14 if I may by any means incite [those who are] my own flesh to jealousy and save+ some from among them.+ 15 For if the casting of them away+ means reconciliation+ for the world, what will the receiving of them mean but life from the dead? 16 Further, if the [part taken as] firstfruits+ is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy,+ the branches are also.
17 However, if some of the branches were broken off but you, although being a wild olive, were grafted in among them+ and became a sharer of the olive’s+ root of fatness,+ 18 do not be exulting over the branches. If, though, you are exulting over them,+ it is not you that bear the root,+ but the root [bears] you.+ 19 You will say, then: “Branches were broken off+ that I might be grafted in.”+ 20 All right! For [their] lack of faith+ they were broken off, but you are standing by faith.+ Quit having lofty ideas,+ but be in fear.+ 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.+ 22 See, therefore, God’s kindness+ and severity.+ Toward those who fell there is severity,+ but toward you there is God’s kindness, provided you remain+ in his kindness; otherwise, you also will be lopped off.+ 23 They also, if they do not remain in their lack of faith, will be grafted in;+ for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature and were grafted+ contrary to nature into the garden olive tree, how much rather will these who are natural be grafted into their own olive tree!+
25 For I do not want YOU, brothers, to be ignorant of this sacred secret,+ in order for YOU not to be discreet in your own eyes: that a dulling of sensibilities+ has happened in part to Israel until the full number*+ of people of the nations has come in,+ 26 and in this manner all Israel+ will be saved. Just as it is written: “The deliverer will come out of Zion+ and turn away ungodly practices from Jacob.+ 27 And this is the covenant on my part with them, when I take their sins away.”+ 28 True, with reference to the good news they are enemies for YOUR sakes,+ but with reference to [God’s] choosing* they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.+ 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are not things he will regret.+ 30 For just as YOU were once disobedient+ to God but have now been shown mercy+ because of their disobedience,+ 31 so also these now have been disobedient with mercy resulting to YOU,+ that they themselves also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut them all up together in disobedience,+ that he might show all of them mercy.+
33 O the depth of God’s riches+ and wisdom+ and knowledge!+ How unsearchable his judgments+ [are] and past tracing out his ways [are]! 34 For “who has come to know Jehovah’s* mind,+ or who has become his counselor?”+ 35 Or, “Who has first given to him, so that it must be repaid to him?”+ 36 Because from him and by him and for him are all things.+ To him be the glory forever.+ Amen.