Romans 15
1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
We who are strong have to be a support to the feeble, and not give pleasure to ourselves.
2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.
Let every one of us give pleasure to his neighbour for his good, to make him strong.
3 For even Christ did not please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
For Christ did not give pleasure to himself, but, as it is said, The bitter words of those who were angry with you came on me.
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Now those things which were put down in writing before our time were for our learning, so that through quiet waiting and through the comfort of the holy Writings we might have hope.
5 Now the God of perseverance and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
Now may the God who gives comfort and strength in waiting make you of the same mind with one another in harmony with Christ Jesus:
6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So that with one mouth you may give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.
So then, take one another to your hearts, as Christ took us, to the glory of God.
8 Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision to give effect to the undertakings given by God to the fathers,
9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.”
And so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercy; as it is said, For this reason I will give praise to you among the Gentiles, and I will make a song to your name.
10 Again he says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
And again he says, Take part, you Gentiles, in the joy of his people.
11 Again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him.”
And again, Give praise to the Lord, all you Gentiles; and let all the nations give praise to him.
12 Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
And again Isaiah says, There will be the root of Jesse, and he who comes to be the ruler over the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles put their hope.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now may the God of hope make you full of joy and peace through faith, so that all hope may be yours in the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.
And I myself am certain of you, brothers, that you are full of what is good, complete in all knowledge, able to give direction to one another.
15 But I write the more boldly to you in part as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,
But I have, in some measure, less fear in writing to you to put these things before you again, because of the grace which was given to me by God,
16 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
To be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, doing the work of a priest in the good news of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles might be pleasing to God, being made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17 I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
So I have pride in Christ Jesus in the things which are God's.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
And I will keep myself from talking of anything but those things which Christ has done by me to put the Gentiles under his rule in word and in act,
19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ;
By signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have given all the good news of Christ;
20 yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation.
Making it my purpose not to take the good news where Christ was named, so that my work might not be resting on that of others;
21 But, as it is written, “They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who have not heard will understand.”
But as it is said in the holy Writings, They will see, to whom the news of him had not been given, and those to whose ears it had not come will have knowledge.
22 Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,
For which reason I was frequently kept from coming to you:
23 but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,
But now, having no longer any place in these parts and having had for a number of years a great desire to come to you,
24 whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
Whenever I go to Spain (for it is my hope to see you on my way, and to be sent on there by you, if first I may in some measure have been comforted by your company) —
25 But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.
But now I go to Jerusalem, taking help for the saints.
26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
For it has been the good pleasure of those of Macedonia and Achaia to send a certain amount of money for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
27 Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in material things.
Yes, it has been their good pleasure; and they are in their debt. For if the Gentiles have had a part in the things of the Spirit which were theirs, it is right for them, in the same way, to give them help in the things of the flesh.
28 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.
So when I have done this, and have given them this fruit of love, I will go on by you into Spain.
29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.
And I am certain that when I come, I will be full of the blessing of Christ.
30 Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,
Now I make request to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you will be working together with me in your prayers to God for me;
31 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
So that I may be kept safe from those in Judaea who have not put themselves under the rule of God, and that the help which I am taking for Jerusalem may be pleasing to the saints;
32 that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.
So that I may come to you in joy by the good pleasure of God, and have rest with you.
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Now may the God of peace be with you all. So be it.
