Romeinen 15

1 Maar wij, die sterk zijn, zijn schuldig de zwakheden der onsterken te dragen, en niet onszelven te behagen.

Most of us are sure [that God will not punish us for doing certain things that the laws and rituals God gave Moses said the Jews should not do. But we] should be patient with those who are uncertain [about such things], and we should not let them irritate us. We should not [simply] please ourselves.

2 Dat dan een iegelijk van ons zijn naaste behage ten goede, tot stichting.

Each of us should [do the things that] please the fellow [believers with whom we come in contact, and things that will] benefit them. [We should do those things] in order to help them mature [spiritually].

3 Want ook Christus heeft Zichzelven niet behaagd, maar gelijk geschreven is: De smadingen dergenen, die U smaden, zijn op Mij gevallen.

[We should please our fellow believers], since Christ [has set us an example]. He did not [do things to] please himself. On the contrary, [he tried to please God even when others insulted him. That was] as it is written {as ([someone/the Psalmist]) wrote} [in Scripture that the Messiah said to God]: “When people insulted you [(sg)], [it was as though] they were also insulting me.”

4 Want al wat te voren geschreven is, dat is tot onze lering te voren geschreven, opdat wij, door lijdzaamheid en vertroosting der Schriften, hoop hebben zouden.

And [you need to remember that] what was written previously {what [God’s servants] previously wrote} [in the Scriptures], was written {[they] wrote} to teach us in order that we would be patient and be encouraged by [reading/believing] what they wrote. If we do that, we can confidently expect [God to do for us all he has promised].

5 Doch de God der lijdzaamheid en der vertroosting geve u, dat gij eensgezind zijt onder elkander naar Christus Jezus;

God is the one who enables us to be patient and encourages us. ([Ask/Pray to]) [him that he would] enable you [all] to live harmoniously with each other, doing as Christ Jesus [did].

6 Opdat gij eendrachtelijk, met een mond, moogt verheerlijken den God en Vader van onzen Heere Jezus Christus.

Then, as you are united in what you think and say [MTY], you will praise God, [who is the heavenly] father [MET] of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Daarom neemt elkander aan, gelijk ook Christus ons aangenomen heeft, tot de heerlijkheid Gods.

So [I say to all of you believers at Rome], accept each other. [If you do that], people will praise God [as they see you behaving like Christ. Accept each other] just like Christ accepted you!

8 En ik zeg, dat Jezus Christus een dienaar geworden is der besnijdenis, vanwege de waarheid Gods, opdat Hij bevestigen zou de beloftenissen der vaderen;

I want [you to remember] that Christ [helped us] Jews [MTY] by what he did, in order to show that God (is faithful/does what he says he will do). That is, [his coming as our Messiah] fulfilled what God promised to [our Jewish] ancestors.

9 En de heidenen God vanwege de barmhartigheid zouden verheerlijken; gelijk geschreven is: Daarom zal ik U belijden onder de heidenen, en Uw Naam lofzingen.

And [by acting mercifully to them, he also caused] non-Jews to praise him. [What he has done for non-Jews] fulfills what is written [in the Scriptures that David said to God]: “So I will praise you [(sg) when I am] among the non-Jews, and I will sing to you [MTY].”

10 En wederom zegt Hij: Weest vrolijk, gij heidenen met Zijn volk!

[David] also wrote, “You non-Jews, rejoice with us who are God’s people.”

11 En wederom: Looft den Heere, al gij heidenen, en prijst Hem, al gij volken!

[And Moses wrote in] the [Scriptures], “Praise the Lord, all [you] non-Jews, and may everyone praise him [DOU].”

12 En wederom zegt Jesaja: Er zal zijn de wortel van Jessai, en Die opstaat, om over de heidenen te gebieden; op Hem zullen de heidenen hopen.

And Isaiah wrote [in the Scriptures], “There will be a descendant [MET] of [King] David who will begin to rule the non-Jews. They will confidently expect him [to fulfill what he has promised].”

13 De God nu der hoop vervulle ulieden met alle blijdschap en vrede in het geloven, opdat gij overvloedig moogt zijn in de hoop, door de kracht des Heiligen Geestes.

God is the one who causes you to confidently expect [him to do what he has promised. I pray/ask] that he will cause you to be completely joyful and peaceful as you trust [in him]. As you do that, the Holy Spirit will enable you to more and more confidently expect [to receive what God has promised you].

14 Doch, mijn broeders, ook ik zelf ben verzekerd van u, dat gij ook zelven vol zijt van goedheid, vervuld met alle kennis, machtig om ook elkander te vermanen.

My fellow believers, I myself am [completely] sure that you yourselves [have acted toward others] in a completely good way. You have done that because you have known completely [all that God wants you to know] [HYP], and because you are able to teach each other.

15 Maar ik heb u eensdeels te stoutelijker geschreven, broeders, u als wederom dit indachtig makende, om de genade, die mij van God gegeven is;

However, I have written to you quite frankly [in this letter] about some things in order to remind you [about those things]. [I have written this letter] because I have been appointed by God {God has [appointed] me}, which I did not deserve,

16 Opdat ik een dienaar van Jezus Christus zij onder de heidenen, het Evangelie van God bedienende, opdat de offerande der heidenen aangenaam worde, geheiligd door den Heiligen Geest.

in order that I would work for Jesus Christ among non-Jews. [God has appointed me] to act like a priest as I [proclaim] his good message in order that he will accept the non-Jews [who believe in Christ. They will be] like an offering [MET] [to God] as a result of their being dedicated [to him] by the Holy Spirit {the Holy Spirit dedicating them [to God]}.

17 Zo heb ik dan roem in Christus Jezus in die dingen, die God aangaan.

It follows that, because [of my relationship with] (OR, because [I belong to]) Christ Jesus, I am happy about [my work for] God.

18 Want ik zou niet durven iets zeggen, hetwelk Christus door mij niet gewrocht heeft, tot gehoorzaamheid der heidenen, met woorden en werken;

I will speak boldly only [LIT] about the work that Christ has enabled me to do. [I do that work] in order that non-Jews might pay attention to [the message about Christ] as a result of what I have said and done,

19 Door kracht van tekenen en wonderheden, en door de kracht van den Geest Gods, zodat ik, van Jeruzalem af, en rondom, tot Illyrikum toe, het Evangelie van Christus vervuld heb.

specifically, by [my performing] many powerful miracles [DOU]. [I have done those things] as a result of [God’s] Spirit powerfully [enabling me]. As a result [of doing those things, while traveling] all the way around from Jerusalem to Illyricum [province], I have completed [my work] of proclaiming the message about Christ [in those places].

20 En alzo zeer begerig geweest ben om het Evangelie te verkondigen, niet waar Christus genoemd was, opdat ik niet op eens anders fondament zou bouwen;

As [I proclaim] that message, I am always eagerly trying to proclaim it [in places] where people have not already heard about Christ. I do that in order that [as I work for God] I might not [be continuing the work for him that someone else already started] [MET]. [I do not want to be like a man who] builds [a house] on someone else’s foundation.

21 Maar gelijk geschreven is: Denwelken van Hem niet was geboodschapt, die zullen het zien; en dewelke het niet gehoord hebben, die zullen het verstaan.

On the contrary, [I teach non-Jews, so that what happens may be like] what was written {the prophet Isaiah wrote} [in the Scriptures about the Messiah]: “Those who did not hear about him previously will know [the truth about him]. Truly, those who have not heard [about him will hear and] understand [his message] [DOU].”

22 Waarom ik ook menigmaal verhinderd geweest ben tot u te komen.

Because [I have attempted to preach the message about Christ in places where they have not heard about him], I have been hindered {things have hindered me} many times [from being able] to visit you.

23 Maar nu geen plaats meer hebbende in deze gewesten, en van over vele jaren groot verlangen hebbende, om tot u te komen,

But now there are no more places in these regions [where people have not heard about Christ]. Furthermore, for several years I have wanted to visit you.

24 Zo zal ik, wanneer ik naar Spanje reis, tot u komen; want ik hoop in het doorreizen u te zien, en van u derwaarts geleid te worden, als ik eerst van ulieder tegenwoordigheid eensdeels verzadigd zal zijn.

[So I hope to go/come to see you]. I hope to do that as soon as I am on my way to [the provinces in] Spain. I hope to see you as I journey through [your area], and I hope that [by whatever you give me] [EUP] you will help me on my journey to Spain. But before [I go there], I want to enjoy being with you for a little while, although [I would like to stay with you longer].

25 Maar nu reis ik naar Jeruzalem, dienende de heiligen.

But [I cannot visit you] now, because I am about to go to Jerusalem in order to take money [EUP] for God’s people [there].

26 Want het heeft dien van Macedonie en Achaje goed gedacht een gemene handreiking te doen aan de armen onder de heiligen, die te Jeruzalem zijn.

[The believers in] Macedonia and Achaia [provinces] [MTY] decided to contribute some [money] [EUP] for those of God’s people in Jerusalem who are poor.

27 Want het heeft hun zo goed gedacht; ook zijn zij hun schuldenaars; want indien de heidenen hunner geestelijke goederen deelachtig zijn geworden, zo zijn zij ook schuldig hen van lichamelijke goederen te dienen.

They themselves decided [to do this, but] truly they owe something to God’s people in Jerusalem. The non-Jewish [believers] benefited spiritually from Jewish [believers as a result of hearing the message about Christ from them], so the non-Jews should also help the Jewish believers [in Jerusalem by giving them] material things (OR, money) [EUP].

28 Als ik dan dit volbracht, en hun deze vrucht verzegeld zal hebben, zo zal ik door ulieder stad naar Spanje afkomen.

So when I have finished this [task] by safely delivering all this money [MET, EUP] [that the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have given], I will leave [Jerusalem and visit] you [in Rome while I am] on my way to Spain.

29 En ik weet, dat ik, tot u komende, met vollen zegen des Evangelies van Christus komen zal.

And I know that when I visit you, Christ will abundantly bless [us] (OR, enable [me] to bless [you]).

30 En ik bid u, broeders, door onzen Heere Jezus Christus, en door de liefde des Geestes, dat gij met mij strijdt in de gebeden tot God voor mij;

Because [we belong to] our Lord Jesus Christ and because the Spirit [of God causes us to] love [each other], I urge you [all] that [you help me] by fervently/intensely praying to God for me.

31 Opdat ik mag bevrijd worden van de ongehoorzamen in Judea, en dat deze mijn dienst, dien ik aan Jeruzalem doe, aangenaam zij den heiligen;

[Pray that] I will be protected {[that God] will protect me} so that the [Jews] in Judea who do not believe [the message about Christ will not harm me]. Also pray that God’s people in Jerusalem will accept the money [EUP] that I [take] to them.

32 Opdat ik met blijdschap, door den wil van God, tot u mag komen, en met u verkwikt worden.

Pray these things in order that I may go/come to you if God wants me to go/come, and that I may go/come joyfully, and that then God will refresh my [spirit as a result of my visiting/being] with you.

33 En de God des vredes zij met u allen. Amen.

[I pray that] God, who [causes us to have inner] peace, will be with all of you [and will help] you. (May it be so!/Amen!)