羅馬書 11
1 再問：莫非天主擯棄了自己的人民嗎？斷然不是! 我自己就是個以色列人，出於亞巴郎的後裔，本雅明支派。
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 天主並沒有擯棄祂所預選的人民。難道你們不知道聖經在厄里亞篇上說了什麼，他怎樣向天主抱怨以色列？
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 『上主呀! 他們殺了你的先知，毀壞了你的祭壇，只剩下了我一個，他們還在謀害我的性命。』
“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 然而神諭告訢了他什麼？『我為我自己留下了七千人，他們沒有向巴耳屈過膝。』
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 同樣，現在也留下了一些殘餘，即天主以恩寵所選拔的人。
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 既是出於恩寵，就不是出於作為，不然，恩寵就不算為恩寵了。
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 那麼還說什麼呢？以色列全體所尋求的，沒有得到，只有那些蒙選的人得到了；其餘的都頑梗不化了。
[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 正如所記載的：『天主賦予了他們沉睡的神，有眼看不見，有耳聽不見，直到今日，仍是如此。』
[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 達味也說過：『他們的筵席成為他們的陷阱、羅網、絆腳石和應得的報應。
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 願他們的眼睛昏迷，不得看見。願你使他們的脊背常常彎曲。』
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 那麼我再問：他們失足，是要他們永久跌倒嗎？絕對不是! 而是藉著他們的過犯，使救恩臨到外邦人，為刺激他們發憤。
[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 如果因他們的過犯，世界得以致富；因他們的墮落，外邦人得以致富；他們全體歸正，更將怎樣呢？
[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 我對你們外邦人說：我既然是外邦人的宗徒，我必要光榮我的職務；
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 這樣，或許可激動我的同胞發憤，因而能拯救他們幾個人。
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 如果因他們被遺棄，世界與天主和好了；那麼，他們如果蒙收納，豈不是死而復生嗎？
[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 如果所獻的初熟的麥麵是聖的，全麵團也成為聖的；如果樹根是聖的，樹枝也是聖的。
[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 假如有幾條橄欖樹枝被折下來，而你這枝野橄欖樹枝被接上去，同沾橄欖樹根的肥脂，
[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 就不可向舊樹枝自誇。如果你想自誇，就該想不是你托著樹根，而是樹根托著你。
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 或者你要說：樹枝被折下來，正是為叫我接上去。
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 不錯，他們因了不信而被折下來，你要因著信，才站得住。你決不可心高氣傲，反應恐懼，
[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 因為天主既然沒有憐惜了那些原有的樹枝，將來也許不憐惜你。
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 可是天主又慈善又嚴厲：天主對於跌倒了的人是嚴厲的，對於你卻是慈善的，只要你存留在祂的慈善上；不然你也必要被砍去。
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 至於他們，如果他們不固執於無信之中，必會再被接上去，因為天主有能力重新把他們接上去。
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 其實，如果你這由本生的橄欖樹上被砍下來的，逆著性被接在好橄欖樹上，何況他們那些原生的樹枝，豈不更容易接在自己原來的橄欖樹上麼？
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 弟兄們! 免得你們自作聰明，我不願意你們不知道這項奧祕的事，就是只有一部分是執迷不悟的，直到外邦人全數進入天國為止：
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 那時，全以色列必也獲救，正如經上所載：『拯救者必要來自熙雍，從雅各伯中消除不敬之罪；
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 這是我與他們所訂立的盟約：那時我要赦免他們的罪惡。』
And [as God says], The contract that I will make with them is that I will forgive their sins.
28 照福音來說，他們由於你們的緣故，成了天主的仇人；但照召選來說，由於他們祖先的緣故，他們仍是可愛的，
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 因為天主的恩賜和召選是決不會撤回的。
[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 就如你們以前背判了天主，如今卻因了他們的背判而蒙受了憐憫；
You [non-Jews] once disobeyed God, but now he has acted mercifully towards you because the [Jews] disobeyed him.
31 同樣，因了你們所受的憐憫，他們如今背判，這是為叫他們今後池蒙受憐憫，
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].
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 啊! 天主的富饒，上智和知識，是麼高深! 他的決斷是多麼不可探察!
[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 有誰曾知道上主的心意？或者，有誰曾當過祂的顧問？
[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 或者，有誰曾先施恩於祂，而望祂還報呢？
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!
