Romans 10

1 My Brethren, The desire of my heart, and my intercession with God for them, is, that they might have life.

My friends, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for my people is for their salvation.

2 For I bear them witness, that there is in them a zeal for God; but it is not according to knowledge.

I can testify that they are zealous for the honor of God; but they are not guided by true insight,

3 For they know not the righteousness of God, but seek to establish their own righteousness: and therefore they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.

for, in their ignorance of the divine righteousness, and in their eagerness to set up a righteousness of their own, they refused to accept with submission the divine righteousness.

4 For Messiah is the aim of the law, for righteousness, unto every one that believeth in him.

For Christ has brought Law to an end, so that righteousness may be obtained by everyone who believes in him.

5 For Moses describeth the righteousness, which is by the law, thus: Whoever shall do these things, shall live by them.

For Moses writes that, as for the righteousness which results from Law, those who practice it will find life through it.

6 But the righteousness which is by faith, saith thus: Thou shalt not say in thy heart, Who ascendeth to heaven, and bringeth Messiah down?

But the righteousness which results from faith finds expression in these words: ‘Do not say to yourself “Who will go up into heaven?”’ (which means to bring Christ down)

7 Or, Who descendeth to the abyss of the grave, and bringeth up Messiah from the place of the dead? (Abyssos g12)

‘or “Who will go down into the depths below?”’ (which means to bring Christ up from the dead). (Abyssos g12)

8 But what saith it? The thing is near to thy mouth, and to thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we proclaim.

No, but what does it say? ‘The message is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (which means ‘The message of faith’ which we proclaim).

9 And if thou shalt confess with thy mouth our Lord Jesus, and shalt believe with thy heart, that God hath raised him from the dead; thou shalt live.

For, if with your lips you acknowledge the truth of the message that JESUS IS LORD, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For the heart that believeth in him, is justified; and the mouth that confesseth him, is restored to life.

For with their hearts people believe and so attain to righteousness, while with their lips they make their profession of faith and so find salvation.

11 For the scripture saith: Every one that believeth in him, shall not be ashamed.

As the passage of scripture says – ‘No one who believes in him will have any cause for shame.’

12 And in this, it discriminateth neither Jews nor Gentiles. For there is one Lord over them all, who is rich, towards every one that calleth on him.

For no distinction is made between the Jew and the Greek, for all have the same Lord, and he is bountiful to all who invoke him.

13 For every one that shall call on the name of the Lord, will have life.

For everyone who invokes the name of the Lord will be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? Or, how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? Or, how shall they hear, without a preacher?

But how, it may be asked, are they to invoke one in whom they have not learned to believe? And how are they to believe in one whose words they have not heard? And how are they to hear his words unless someone proclaims him?

15 Or, how shall they preach, if they are not sent forth? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of the heralds of peace, and of the heralds of good things?

And how is anyone to proclaim him unless they are sent as his messengers? As scripture says – ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

16 But all of them have not obeyed the proclamation of the gospel. (For, Isaiah said: My Lord, who hath believed our proclamation?)

Still, it may be said, everyone did not give heed to the good news. No, for Isaiah asks – ‘Lord, who has believed our teaching?’

17 Therefore, faith is from the hearing of the ear; and the hearing of the ear, is from the word of God.

And so we gather, faith is a result of teaching, and the teaching comes in the message of Christ.

18 But I say: Have they not heard? And, lo, their proclamation hath gone out into all the earth; and their words to the ends of the world.

But I ask ‘Is it possible that people have never heard?’ No, indeed, for – ‘Their voices spread through all the earth, and their message to the ends of the world.’

19 But I say: Did not Israel know? First, Moses said, thus: I will awaken your emulation, by a people which is not a people; and by a disobedient people, I will provoke you.

But again I ask ‘Did not the people of Israel understand?’ First there is Moses, who says – ‘I, the Lord, will stir you to rivalry with a nation which is no nation; against an undiscerning nation I will arouse your anger.’

20 And Isaiah was bold, and said: I was seen by those who sought me not; and I was found by those who inquired not for me.

And Isaiah says boldly – ‘I was found by those who were not seeking me; I made myself known to those who were not inquiring of me.’

21 But to Israel, he said: All the day, have I stretched out my hands to a contentious and disobedient people.

But of the people of Israel he says – ‘All day long I have stretched out my hands to a people who disobey and contradict.’