Romans 15

1 As for us who are strong, our duty is to bear with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not seek our own pleasure.

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let each of us endeavour to please his fellow Christian, aiming at a blessing calculated to build him up.

Let every one of us please [his] neighbour for [his] good to edification.

3 For even the Christ did not seek His own pleasure. His principle was, "The reproaches which they addressed to Thee have fallen on me."

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

4 For all that was written of old has been written for our instruction, so that we may always have hope through the power of endurance and the encouragement which the Scriptures afford.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

5 And may God, the giver of power of endurance and of that encouragement, grant you to be in full sympathy with one another in accordance with the example of Christ Jesus,

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

6 so that with oneness both of heart and voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Habitually therefore give one another a friendly reception, just as Christ also has received you, and thus promote the glory of God.

Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

8 My meaning is that Christ has become a servant to the people of Israel in vindication of God's truthfulness-- in showing how sure are the promises made to our forefathers--

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [made] unto the fathers:

9 and that the Gentiles also have glorified God in acknowledgment of His mercy. So it is written, "For this reason I will praise Thee among the Gentiles, and sing psalms in honour of Thy name."

And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

10 And again the Psalmist says, "Be glad, ye Gentiles, in company with His People."

And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and let all the people extol Him."

And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

12 And again Isaiah says, "There shall be the Root of Jesse and One who rises up to rule the Gentiles. On Him shall the Gentiles build their hopes."

And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

13 May God, the giver of hope, fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him--so that you may have abundant hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

14 But as to you, brethren, I am convinced-- yes, I Paul am convinced--that, even apart from my teaching, you are already full of goodness of heart, and enriched with complete Christian knowledge, and are also competent to instruct one another.

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

15 But I write to you the more boldly--partly as reminding you of what you already know--because of the authority graciously entrusted to me by God,

Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,

16 that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, doing priestly duties in connexion with God's Good News so that the sacrifice--namely the Gentiles--may be acceptable to Him, being (as it is) an offering which the Holy Spirit has made holy.

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

17 I can therefore glory in Christ Jesus concerning the work for God in which I am engaged.

I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

18 For I will not presume to mention any of the results that Christ has brought about by other agency than mine in securing the obedience of the Gentiles by word or deed,

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

19 with power manifested in signs and marvels, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. But--to speak simply of my own labours--beginning in Jerusalem and the outlying districts, I have proclaimed without reserve, even as far as Illyricum, the Good News of the Christ;

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

20 making it my ambition, however, not to tell the Good News where Christ's name was already known, for fear I should be building on another man's foundation.

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

21 But, as Scripture says, "Those shall see, to whom no report about Him has hitherto come, and those who until now have not heard shall understand."

But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

22 And it is really this which has again and again prevented my coming to you.

For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

23 But now, as there is no more unoccupied ground in this part of the world, and I have for years past been eager to pay you a visit,

But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

24 I hope, as soon as ever I extend my travels into Spain, to see you on my way and be helped forward by you on my journey, when I have first enjoyed being with you for a time.

Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your [company].

25 But at present I am going to Jerusalem to serve God's people,

But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

26 for Macedonia and Greece have kindly contributed a certain sum in relief of the poor among God's people, in Jerusalem.

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

27 Yes, they have kindly done this, and, in fact, it was a debt they owed them. For seeing that the Gentiles have been admitted in to partnership with the Jews in their spiritual blessings, they in turn are under an obligation to render sacred service to the Jews in temporal things.

It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

28 So after discharging this duty, and making sure that these kind gifts reach those for whom they are intended, I shall start for Spain, passing through Rome on my way there;

When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

29 and I know that when I come to you it will be with a vast amount of blessing from Christ.

And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

30 But I entreat you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love which His Spirit inspires, to help me by wrestling in prayer to God on my behalf,

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in [your] prayers to God for me;

31 asking that I may escape unhurt from those in Judaea who are disobedient, and that the service which I am going to Jerusalem to render may be well received by the Church there,

That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which [I have] for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

32 in order that if God be willing I may come to you with a glad heart, and may enjoy a time of rest with you.

That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

33 May God, who gives peace be with you all! Amen.

Now the God of peace [be] with you all. Amen.