1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is fortheirsalvation.
2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For not knowing about the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the 10:4 Or goal end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.Faith Comes by Hearing
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of law: “The man who does these things shall live by them.”
6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),
7 or ‘Who will go down into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you,in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
9 10:9 Or because that if you confess with your mouth JesusasLord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, 10:10Lit to righteousness leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, 10:10Lit to salvation leading to salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes uponHim will not be put to shame.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the sameLordis Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him,
13 for “Whoever calls on the name of theLord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!”
16 However, they did not all heed the 10:16Or gospel good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord,who has believed our report?”
17 So faithcomesfrom hearing, and hearing by the word 10:17 Or concerning Christ of Christ.
18 But I say, have they never heard? On the contrary, they have;“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,And their words to the ends of the 10:18Or inhabited earth world.”
19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says,“Iwill make you jealous by that which is not a nation,By a nation without understanding willIanger you.”
20 And Isaiah is very bold and says,“Iwas found by those who did not seekMe,Ibecame manifest to those who did not ask forMe.”
21 But as for Israel He says, “All day longIhave stretched outMy hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”