Modern Literal Version
[Romans 1]
1:1 Paul, bondservant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated* to the good-news of God, 1:2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 1:3 concerning his Son, (who was born from the seed of David according to the flesh, 1:4 who has been determined as being the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, out of the resurrection of the dead), Jesus Christ our Lord. 1:5 Through whom, we received grace and apostleship, to the obedience of faith in all the nations, on behalf of his name; 1:6 among whom you* are also called of Jesus Christ. 1:7 To all those who are in Rome, beloved of God, called holy-ones: grace to you* and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:8 First, I am giving-thanks to my God through Jesus Christ on behalf of you* all, that your* faith is proclaimed in all the world. 1:9 For* God is my witness, whom I am giving-divine service in my spirit in the good-news of his Son, how constantly I make* mention of you*. 1:10 I beseech God, if somehow now, I will be prospered by the will of God to come to you* someday, 1:11 for* I am longing to see you*, that* I may give to you* some spiritual gift*, *that* you* may be established; 1:12 and that is also that I might be comforted together among you*, through the faith, both yours* and mine, that is in one another. 1:13 And brethren, I do not wish you* to be ignorant that I often purposed to come to you* (and was prevented until presently), that* I might also have some fruit among you*, just-as among the rest of the Gentiles. 1:14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 1:15 So, as for me, I am eager to proclaim the good-news to you* who are also in Rome.
1:16 For* I am not ashamed of the good-news of Christ; for* it is the power of God *for salvation to everyone who believes; both to the Jew first and to the Greek. 1:17 For* in it the righteousness of God is revealed out of faith into faith; just-as it has been written, ‘But the righteous will live from faith.’ {Hab. 2:4}
1:18 For* the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who are holding back the truth in unrighteousness; 1:19 because what is known of God is apparent in them; for* God manifested it to them. 1:20 For* the invisible things of him are clearly seen from the creation of the world, being perceived by the produced things, both his everlasting power and divinity; *that* they may be without defense; 1:21 because knowing God, they did not glorify him as God, nor gave-thanks; but became-futile in their reasonings and their heart, which has no understanding, was darkened. 1:22 They are foolish, claiming to be wise, 1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, of birds, of four footed mammals and reptiles.
1:24 Hence also, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, *that* their bodies should be dishonored among themselves. 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God into a lie and worshiped and gave-divine service to the created thing rather than the Creator, who is gracious* forever. Amen.
1:26 Because of this, God gave them up to passions of dishonor; for* their females exchanged the natural use into what is beyond anything natural; 1:27 and the males also likewise, leaving the natural use of the female, burned in their lust toward one another, males with males working indecent deeds and receiving in themselves the recompense which was essential from their error.
1:28 And just-as they did not approve to have God in their full knowledge, God gave them up to an unapproved mind, to do those things which are not proper. 1:29 They were filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, greed, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, treachery, maliciousness. They are malicious whisperers, 1:30 slandering, spiteful to God, insolent, haughty, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 1:31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, cold-hearted, implacable and unmerciful. 1:32 Who, having fully known the ordinance of God, (that those who practice such things are worthy of death), are not only doing the same things, but also are consenting with those who practice them.
[Romans 2]
2:1 Hence you are without defense, O man, who judges; for* in what you are judging another, you are condemning yourself; for* you who judge are practicing the same things. 2:2 And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth upon those who practice such things. 2:3 And O man, who is judging those who practice such things and you are practicing the same yourself. Are you reasoning that you will escape the judgment of God? 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, being ignorant that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 2:5 But you store up wrath for yourself according to your hardness and unrepentant heart in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 2:6 who will ‘repay to each one according to his works’. {Ps 62:12} 2:7 Eternal life to those who are seeking, according to endurance, in doing good for glory and honor and incorruption. 2:8 But to those who act out of selfish ambition and who indeed disobey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, he will repay with wrath and anger, 2:9 affliction and distress, upon every soul of man who is working evil, both of the Jew first and of the Greek. 2:10 But glory and honor and peace to every man who is working good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek; 2:11 for* there is no partiality with God.
2:12 For* as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. And as many as have sinned under the law will be judged through the law. 2:13 For* the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified. 2:14 For* whenever the Gentiles, not having the law, practice the things of the law by nature, these, not having the law, are the law to themselves; 2:15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying together with their hearts, and between one another, their reasonings are accusing or either defending them; 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ, according to my good-news.
2:17 Behold, you who is named a Jew and rest upon the law and boast in God, 2:18 and know his will and approve the things that carry more-value, being instructed out of the law, 2:19 and have confidence that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness, 2:20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of infants, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth. 2:21 Therefore you who are teaching another, are you not teaching yourself? You who are preaching a man should not steal, are you stealing? 2:22 You who say a man should not commit adultery, are you committing adultery? You who detest idols, are you a temple looter? 2:23 You who are boasting in the law, through your transgression of the law, are you dishonoring God? 2:24 ‘For* the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you*,’ just-as it has been written. {Is. 52:5} 2:25 For* circumcision indeed profits, if you practice the law; but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision are keeping the ordinances of the law, will his uncircumcision not be counted toward circumcision? 2:27 And the uncircumcision who is accomplishing the law by* nature, will judge you, who are a transgressor of the law through the writing and circumcision. 2:28 For* he is not a Jew who appears as one openly; neither is circumcision that which is openly in the flesh, 2:29 but a Jew is he who is so hidden, and the circumcision is that of the heart, in spirit, not in a writing; whose praise is not from men, but from God.
[Romans 3]
3:1 Therefore what is the supremacy of the Jew? Or what is the profit of circum-cision? 3:2 Much, according to every manner. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3:3 For* what if some disbelieved? Their unbelief will not do-away-with the faithfulness of God, will it? 3:4 Let it not happen! Now, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it has been written, ‘*That you may be justified in your words and may overcome when you are judged.’ {Ps. 51:4} 3:5 For* if our unrighteousness is establishing the righteousness of God, what will we say? The God who brings upon us wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I speak according to the manner of man.) 3:6 Let it not happen! Otherwise how will God judge the world? 3:7 But if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still being judged like a sinner? 3:8 And why should we not do evil, in order that good may come (just-as we are blasphemed and just-as some say we speak likewise*)? Whose condemnation is just!
3:9 Then* what? Are we special? Certainly not; for* we accused, before both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin; 3:10 as it has been written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one. 3:11 There are none who are understanding. There are none who are seeking out God. 3:12 They shunned God. They became-useless at the same time. There is no one practicing kindness; there is not insofar as even one.’ {Ps. 14:1ff & 53:1ff} 3:13 ‘Their throat is an open burial chamber; they were treacherous with their tongues.’ {Ps. 5:9} ‘The poison of asps is under their lips.’ {Ps. 140:3} 3:14 ‘Whose mouth is full of evil-cursing and bitterness.’ {Ps. 10:7?} 3:15 ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; 3:16 downfall and miseries are in their ways; 3:17 and they did not know the way of peace.’ {Is. 59:7,8} 3:18 ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’ {Ps. 36:1}
3:19 Now we know that inasmuch as the law says, it is speaking to those in the law; that* every mouth may be sealed and all the world may be under the sentence of God; 3:20 because no flesh will be justified in his sight from the works of the law; for* through the law comes the full knowledge of sin.
3:21 But now a righteousness of God has been manifested separate from the law, being testified by the law and the prophets; 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ toward all and upon all those who believe; for* there is no distinction; 3:23 for* all have sinned and fall-short of the glory of God. 3:24 All those who believe, being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 3:25 whom God purposed to be an atonement in his blood, through the faith, *for an example of his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done beforehand, in the forbearance of God, 3:26 to be the example of his righteousness in this current time, *that* he may himself be righteous and justifying him who is from the faith of Jesus.
3:27 Therefore where is the boasting? It was locked out. Through what law? Of works? No; but through a law through faith. 3:28 Therefore we reason that a man is justified in faith separate from the works of the law. 3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also. 3:30 Since God is one, it is he who will justify the circumcision out of faith and the uncircumcision through the faith. 3:31 Therefore do we do-away-with the law through the faith? Let it not happen! But through the faith, we are establishing the law.
[Romans 4]
4:1 Then* what will we say, that Abraham, our father, has found according to the flesh? 4:2 For* if Abraham was justified out of works, he has grounds for boasting; but not toward God. 4:3 For* what does the Scripture say? ‘And Abraham believed God and it was counted to him *for righteousness.’ {Gen 15:6} 4:4 Now to him who is working, the reward is not counted according to grace, but according to debt. 4:5 But to him who is not working, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted *for righteousness. 4:6 Just-as David also says concerning the good-fortune upon the man to whom God counts righteousness separate from works, 4:7 saying, ‘Fortunate are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven and whose sins are covered. 4:8 The man to whom the Lord may never* count sin, is fortunate.’ {Ps. 32:1,2} 4:9 Then* is this good-fortune pronounced upon the circumcision or also upon the uncircumcision? For* we say that his faith was counted to Abraham *for righteousness. 4:10 Then* how was it counted? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, *that* he might be the father of all those who believe, even while in uncircumcision, *that* righteousness might also be counted to them; 4:12 and the father of circumcision, to those who are not only from the circumcision, but who also are marching in the footprints of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision.
4:13 For* the promise was to Abraham or to his seed, for him to be heir of the world, but not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 4:14 For* if those who are from the law are heirs, the faith is made void and the promise is done-away-with. 4:15 For* the law is working wrath; for* where there is no law, neither is there transgression. 4:16 Because of this it is out of faith, that* it may be according to grace; *that* the promise may be steadfast to all the seed; not to what is only from the law, but also to what is out of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 4:17 (as it has been written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’ {Gen. 17:5}), before him whom he believed– God, who is giving-life to the dead and is calling the things that are not, as though they were. 4:18 Abraham who contrary to hope believed upon hope, *that* he might become a father of many nations, according to what had been spoken, So your seed will be. {Gen. 15:5}
4:19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already sterile, (being* nearly a hundred years), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 4:20 Yet, looking toward the promise of God, he did not doubt through unbelief, but became empowered through faith, giving glory to God, 4:21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 4:22 Hence it was also counted to him *for righteousness. 4:23 Now it was not written, ‘It was counted to him,’ because of him only; 4:24 but also, because of us to whom it is about to be counted, who believe on him who lifted up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 4:25 who was given up because of our trespasses and was lifted up because of our justification.
[Romans 5]
5:1 Therefore being justified out of faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 5:2 through whom we also have had our access in the faith into this grace in which we stand, and we are boasting in hope of the glory of God. 5:3 And not only in this, but we are also boasting in our afflictions, knowing that affliction is working endurance; 5:4 and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope; 5:5 and hope does not make one ashamed, because the love* of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 5:6 For* while we were still weak, according to the proper time Christ died on behalf of the ungodly. 5:7 For* scarcely will one die on behalf of a righteous man; for* perhaps someone might even dare to die on behalf of the good man. 5:8 But God is establishing his own love* toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died on our behalf. 5:9 Then* much more, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from the wrath of God through him. 5:10 For* if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life; 5:11 and not only so, but we are also boasting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
5:12 Because of this, as sin entered into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death has gone forth to all men, in which all have sinned. 5:13 For* until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law. 5:14 But death reigned from Adam till Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a pattern of the future one. 5:15 But not like the trespass, so also is the gift*. For* if the many died by the trespass of the one, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 5:16 And the gift is not through one who sinned; for* indeed the judgment came from one to condemnation, but the gift* came from many trespasses to an act of righteousness. 5:17 For* if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more they, who are receiving the abundance of the grace and of the gift of righteousness, will reign in life through the one, who is Jesus Christ. 5:18 Then* consequently, as through one trespass the judgment came to all men to condemnation; so through one act of righteousness the gift also came to all men to justification of life. 5:19 For* as through the one man's disobedience* the many were designated as sinners, so also through the obedience of the one the many will be designated as righteous. 5:20 And the law entered in besides, that* the trespass might increase; but where sin increased, grace over abounded; 5:21 that*, as sin reigned in death, so grace might also reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[Romans 6]
6:1 Then* what will we say? Are we remaining in sin, in order that grace may increase? 6:2 Let it not happen! We who died to sin, how will we live in it any longer? 6:3 Or are you* ignorant that as many as were immersed* into Christ Jesus were immersed* into his death? 6:4 Therefore we were buried together with him through the immersion* into death; that* just-like Christ was lifted up from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we might also walk in newness of life. 6:5 For* if we have become unified with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be unified with him in the likeness of his resurrection. 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man was crucified together with him, in order that the body of sin might be done-away, that we are to no longer be enslaved to sin; 6:7 for* he who has died has been justified from sin. 6:8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live together with him; 6:9 knowing that Christ having been lifted up from the dead dies no more; death has no more lordship over him. 6:10 For* the death that he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life that he is living, he is living to God. 6:11 So you* also count yourselves to be dead to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your* mortal body, to the end, that you* might obey* it in its lusts; 6:13 nor present your* members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God, as living from the dead and your* members as instruments of righteousness to God. 6:14 For* sin will not have lordship over you*; for* you* are not under law, but under grace. 6:15 Then* what? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? Let it not happen! 6:16 Do you* not know, that to whom you* present yourselves as bondservants to obedience*, you* are the bondservants to whom you* obey*; either of sin to death or of obedience* to righteousness? 6:17 But gratitude to God, that, though you* were bondservants of sin, you* obeyed* from the heart to that pattern of teaching to which you* were given; 6:18 and having been made free from sin, you* were enslaved to righteousness.
6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your* flesh; for* as you* presented your* members as bondservants to uncleanness and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your* members as bondservants to righteousness leading to sanctification. 6:20 For* when you* were bondservants of sin, you* were free in regard to righteousness. 6:21 Therefore what fruit did you* have then in the things of which you* are now ashamed? For* the end of those things is death. 6:22 But now, having been made free from sin and having been enslaved to God, you* have your* fruit leading to sanctification and the end eternal life. 6:23 For* the compensation of sin is death; but the gift* of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Romans 7]
7:1 Or are you* ignorant, brethren (for* I am speaking to men who know the law), that the law has lordship over a man inasmuch time as he is living? 7:2 For* the woman in wedlock is bound by law to the living husband; but if the husband dies, she is {F} discharged from the law of the husband. 7:3 Then* consequently, if while the husband is living, she becomes joined to another man, she will be divinely-named– an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, she is not an adulteress, even if she had become joined to another man. 7:4 So-then my brethren, you* were also put to death to the law through the body of Christ; *that* you* should become joined to another, that is to him who was lifted up from the dead, that* we might bear-fruit to God. 7:5 For* when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, were working in our members, *that* they might bear-fruit to death. 7:6 But now we have been {F} discharged from the law, having died in that in which we were held; so-that we serve* in newness of the spirit and not in oldness of the writing.
7:7 Then* what shall we say? Is the law sin? Let it not happen! But, I had not known sin, except through the law; for* I had not known {F} coveting, except the law had said, Do not {F} covet. 7:8 But sin, having taken a starting-point, worked in me through the commandment all manner of {F} coveting; for* separate from the law sin is dead. 7:9 And I was previously alive separate from the law; but when the commandment came, sin lived through me again and I died; 7:10 and the commandment, which was to life, I found this to be to death; 7:11 for* sin, having taken a starting-point through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 7:12 So-that the law is holy and the commandment holy and righteous and good. 7:13 Then* what is good to me, has it become death? Let it not happen! But sin, in order that it might appear as sin, through what is good to me, was working death; in order that sin might become surpassingly sinful through the commandment. 7:14 For* we know that the law is spiritual; but I am fleshly, sold under sin.
7:15 For* I do not know what I am working; for* not what I will– I am practicing this; but what I hate– I am practicing this. 7:16 But if what I do not will, this I am practicing, I assent with the law; that it is good. 7:17 So now no longer am I working it, but the sin which is dwelling in me. 7:18 For* I know nothing good is dwelling in me, that is in my flesh; for* it is lying beside with me to will it, but to work what is good, I am not finding it. 7:19 For* the good which I will, I am not practicing; but the evil which I do not will– I am doing this. 7:20 But if what I do not will, this I am practicing, no longer am I working it, but the sin which is dwelling in me. 7:21 Consequently, I find the law to me, that when I am willing to practice the good things, evil is lying beside me.
7:22 For* I delight-inwardly in the law of God according to the inward man. 7:23 But I am seeing a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and capturing me in the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24 O I am a miserable man! Who will rescue me out of the body of this death? 7:25 I am giving-thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then* consequently, I myself, indeed, serve* the law of God with the mind; but with the flesh I serve* the law of sin.
{Footnotes: Rom 7:2, 6- GREEK: done-away. Rom 7:7, 8- GREEK: lust or desire for. * is our universal footnoting for words contained in the Appendix. These words are NOT the same Greek word as the non-asterisk form; i.e. *for is different from for* is different from for.}
[Romans 8]
8:1 Consequently now there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 8:2 For* the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 8:3 For* the law being powerless, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh; 8:4 in order that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who are not walking according to the flesh, but walk according to the Spirit. 8:5 For* those who are according to the flesh are mindful of the things of the flesh; but those who are according to the Spirit are mindful of the things of the Spirit. 8:6 For* the mind-set of the flesh is death; but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace; 8:7 because the mind-set of the flesh is enmity at God; for* it is not subject to the law of God, for* neither is it able to be; 8:8 and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God. 8:9 But you* are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God is dwelling in you*. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. 8:10 And if Christ is in you*, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. 8:11 But if the Spirit of him who lifted up Jesus from the dead is dwelling in you*, he who lifted up the Christ from the dead will also give-life to your* mortal bodies through his Spirit who is dwelling in you*.
8:12 Then* consequently, brethren, we are debtors but not to the flesh, not to live according to the flesh; 8:13 for* if you* live according to the flesh, you* are about to die; but if you* put to death the practices of the body in spirit, you* will live. 8:14 For* as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 8:15 For* you* did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you* received the spirit of sonship, in which we cry, Abba, Father. 8:16 The Spirit himself is testifying with our spirit, that we are children of God; 8:17 and if children, then heirs; indeed, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we are suffering together with him, that* we might also be glorified together with him.
8:18 For* I reason that the sufferings of this current time are not worthy in comparison with the glory which is about to be revealed to us. 8:19 For* the earnest expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. 8:20 For* the creation was subjected to futility, not voluntarily, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 8:21 that even the creation itself will be made free from the bondage of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 8:22 For* we know that the whole creation groans and travails together in pain until now. 8:23 And not only they, but we ourselves also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves are groaning in ourselves, waiting for our sonship, that is, the redemption of our body. 8:24 For* we were saved in hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for* who also hopes for what he sees? 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, then we are waiting for it through endurance.
8:26 And likewise* the Spirit is also jointly helping our weaknesses; for* we do not know what we are praying for as we ought; but the Spirit himself is interceding on our behalf with unspeakable groans; 8:27 and he who is searching the hearts knows what the mind-set of the Spirit is, because he is interceding on behalf of the holy-ones according to the will of God. 8:28 And we know that all things work together toward good, to those who love* God, to those who are called according to his purpose. 8:29 Because, whom he knew beforehand, he also predetermined to be transformed to the image of his Son, to this end, he himself might be the firstborn among many brethren; 8:30 and whom he predetermined, he also called these and whom he called, he also justified these and whom he justified, he also glorified these.
8:31 Then* what will we say to these things? If God is working on our behalf, who is against us? 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up on our behalf all, how will he not also grant to us all things with him? 8:33 Who shall accuse anything against God's chosen? It is God who justifies. 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ Jesus who died, but also rather, who was also lifted up from the dead, who is by the right hand of God, who also is interceding on our behalf.
8:35 Who will separate us from the love* of Christ? Shall affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? 8:36 Just-as it has been written, ‘Because of you we are put to death all day long. We were counted as sheep of the slaughter.’ {Ps. 44:22} 8:37 But we are victorious in all these things through him who loved* us. 8:38 For* I have confidence, that neither death, nor life, nor messengers, nor principalities, nor powers, nor present things, nor future things, 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love* of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[Romans 9]
9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience is testifying with me in the Holy Spirit, 9:2 that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 9:3 For* I would pray that I myself were accursed from Christ on behalf of my brethren, my relatives according to the flesh, 9:4 who are Israelites, whose is the sonship and the glory and the covenants* and the institution of the law and the divine service and the promises; 9:5 whose are the fathers and from whom is Christ according to the flesh, who is over all: God is gracious* forever. Amen.
9:6 But it is not such-as that the word of God has fallen short. For* they are not all Israel, (those who are from Israel); 9:7 nor, are they all children, because they are Abraham's seed; but, ‘In Isaac your seed will be called.’ {Gen. 21:12} 9:8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God; but the children of the promise are counted *for a seed. 9:9 For* this is the word of promise, ‘I will come according to this season and Sarah will have a son.’ {Gen. 18:10} 9:10 Now not only so; but also Rebecca having impregnation out of one, our father Isaac; 9:11 for* the children not yet being born, neither practicing anything good or evil, that* the purpose of God according to his choosing might stand, not from works, but from him who is calling. 9:12 It was said to her, ‘The greater will serve* the inferior.’ {Gen. 25:23} 9:13 Just-as it has been written, ‘Jacob I loved*, but Esau I hated.’ {Mal. 1:2,3}
9:14 Then* what shall we say? There is not unrighteousness with God, is there? Let it not happen! 9:15 For* he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy and I will have pity on whomever I have pity.’ {Ex. 33:19} 9:16 Then* consequently, it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of he who has mercy– God. 9:17 For* the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘I have lifted you up *for this same thing, *that I might show in you my power and *that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ {Ex. 9:16} 9:18 Then* consequently, he has mercy on whom he wills and he hardens whom he wills.
9:19 Therefore you will say to me, Why is he still finding-fault? For* who is withstanding his will? 9:20 But-rather, O man, who are you who answers back against God? The molded thing will not say to him who molded it, why did you make* me so, will it? 9:21 Or does the potter not have authority over the clay, to make* out of the same batch one vessel *for honor and another *for dishonor? 9:22 But what if God, willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, carried us, vessels of wrath framed *for destruction, in much patience; 9:23 and that* he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand *for glory, 9:24 that is us, whom he also invited, not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?
9:25 As he says also in Hosea, ‘I will call those who are not my people, my people, and those not beloved, beloved.’{Ho. 2:23} 9:26 And it will be, in the place where it was said to them, ‘You* are not my people; they will be called sons of the living God there.’ {Ho. 1:10} 9:27 Now Isaiah cries on behalf of Israel, ‘If the number of the sons of Israel is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved; 9:28 for* he is finishing and cutting-short the word in righteousness because having been cut-short, the Lord will make* the word upon the earth.’ {Is. 10:22, 23} 9:29 And, as Isaiah has said before, ‘If the Lord of Hosts had not left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom and would have been similar to Gomorrah.’ {Is. 1:9}
9:30 Then* what shall we say? That the Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, grabbed righteousness, even the righteousness from faith. 9:31 But Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain the law of righteousness. 9:32 Why? Because it was not from faith, but as it was from works of the law, for* they stumbled on the stone of stumbling; 9:33 just-as it has been written, ‘Behold, I place a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense in Zion and everyone who believes on him will not be ashamed.’ {Is. 8:14 & 28:16}
[Romans 10]
10:1 Brethren, my heart's delight and my supplication to God on behalf of Israel, is *for their salvation. 10:2 For* I testify of them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to full knowledge. 10:3 For* being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 10:4 For* Christ is the end of the law *for righteousness to everyone who believes. 10:5 For* Moses writes of the righteousness which is from the law, ‘That the man who practices those things will live by them.’ {Lev. 18:5 Ezek. 20:11} 10:6 But the righteousness which is from faith says thus, ‘Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven?’ (That is, to bring Christ down.) 10:7 Or, ‘Who will come down into the abyss?’ (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.) 10:8 But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.’ {Deut. 30:12-14?} This is the word of the faith which we are preaching: 10:9 that if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and if you believe in your heart that God lifted him up from the dead, you will be saved; 10:10 for* it is being believed with the heart toward righteousness and it is being confessed with the mouth toward salvation. 10:11 For* the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes on him will not be ashamed.’ {Is. 28:16} 10:12 For* there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for* the same Lord is Lord of all and is rich to all who is calling upon him; 10:13 for* everyone, ‘Whomever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’ {Joel 2:32} 10:14 Then* how will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without someone preaching? 10:15 And how will they preach, if they are not sent? Just-as it has been written, ‘Beautiful are the feet of those who are proclaiming the good-news of peace and of those who are proclaiming the good-news of good things!’ {Is. 52:7}
10:16 But they did not all obey* the good-news. For* Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ {Is. 53:1} 10:17 Consequently, belief comes from hearing and hearing through the word of God. 10:18 But I say, ‘Did they not hear?’ But-rather, ‘Their sounds went out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the world*.’ {Ps. 19:4} 10:19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses says, ‘I will provoke you* to jealousy with what is no nation. I will rouse you* to anger with a nation which has no understanding.’ {Deut. 32:21} 10:20 And Isaiah is very daring and says, ‘I was found by those who are not seeking me. I became manifest to those who are not asking for me.’ {Is. 65:1} 10:21 But as to Israel he says, ‘All the day long I outstretch my hands to a disobedient and contradicting people.’ {Is. 65:2}
[Romans 11]
11:1 Therefore I say, God has not thrust away his people, has he? Let it not happen! For* I am also an Israelite, from the seed of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 11:2 God did not thrust away his people which he knew beforehand. Or do you* not know what the Scripture says of Elijah? How he petitions God against Israel, saying, 11:3 ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets and have made ruins of your altars, and I am left alone and they are seeking my life.’ {1Ki. 19:10,14} 11:4 But what does the divine-answer say to him? ‘I have left to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ {1Ki. 19:18} 11:5 So also, then* in this current time there has also become a remnant according to the chosen of grace. 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no more from works, otherwise grace becomes grace no more. But if from works, no more is it grace; otherwise work is work no more. 11:7 Then* what? What Israel is seeking after, this it did not obtain; but the chosen obtained it and the rest were hardened; 11:8 just-as it has been written, ‘God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that* they should not see and ears that* they should not hear, until this very day.’ {Is. 29:10} 11:9 And David says, ‘Let their table become a snare and a trap and an offense and a repayment to them. 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened that* they might not see and always bow down their backs.’{Ps. 62;22, 23}
11:11 Therefore I say, They have not tripped that* they might fall, have they? Let it not happen! But salvation has come to the Gentiles by their trespass, *that* they might provoke them to jealousy. 11:12 Now if their trespass is the riches of the world and their loss is the riches of the Gentiles; how much more is their fullness? 11:13 For* I speak to you* who are Gentiles, inasmuch as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my service; 11:14 if somehow I provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and might save some out of them. 11:15 For* if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what will the receiving of them be, except life from the dead?
11:16 And if the first-fruit is holy, so is the batch and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a fellow partner of the root of the plumpness of the olive tree with them. 11:18 Do not boast against the branches; but if are you boasting against them, it is not you who is bearing the root, but the root which is bearing you. 11:19 Therefore you will say, Branches were broken off, that* I might be grafted in. 11:20 Well; they were broken off by their unbelief and so you stand in the faith. Do not be cavalier, but fear; 11:21 for* if God did not spare the natural branches, lest neither will he spare you. 11:22 Therefore behold the kindness and severity of God toward those who fell; it is severity upon them; but kindness upon you, if you remain in the kindness of God: otherwise you also will be cut off. 11:23 And also those, if they do not remain in their unbelief will be grafted in; for* God is able to graft them in again. 11:24 For* if you were cut off from what is according to nature a wild olive tree and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
11:25 For* brethren, I do not wish you* to be ignorant of this mystery (that* you* may not be too prudent with yourselves), that a hardening has happened in part to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles should come in; 11:26 and all Israel will thus be saved; just-as it has been written, ‘There will come out of Zion, he who rescues and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 11:27 And this is my covenant* to them, when I may take away their sins.’ {Is. 59:20-21, 27:9} 11:28 They are enemies because of you* according to the good-news; but according to the choice, they are beloved because of the fathers. 11:29 For* the gifts* and the calling of God are unregrettable. 11:30 For* as you* were also previously disobedient to God, but now you* have been shown-mercy by their disobedience, 11:31 so now these also have been disobedient, that* in your mercy, they might also be shown-mercy. 11:32 For* God has locked up together all to disobedience, that* he might have mercy upon all.
11:33 O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and untraceable his ways! 11:34 For* who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his counselor? 11:35 Or who has first-given to him and it will be repaid to him again? 11:36 It is because all things are from him and through him and to him. To him is the glory forever. Amen.
[Romans 12]
12:1 Therefore brethren, I am encouraging you* through the mercies from God, to present your* bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your* logical divine service. 12:2 And do not fashion yourselves to this age; but be transformed by the renewal of your* mind, *that* you* may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
12:3 For* I say, through the grace that was given to me, to everyone who is among you*, not to have high-notions, beyond what he ought to be mindful of. But to be mindful of this grace, *that* he should be sensible, just-as God has divided to each man a measure of faith. 12:4 For* just-as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function; 12:5 so we, the many, are one body in Christ and each one members of one another. 12:6 And having assorted gifts* according to the grace that was given to us; if prophecy, then prophesy according to the analogy of the faith; 12:7 if service, give yourselves to the service; if he who is teaching, to the teaching; 12:8 if he who is encouraging, to the encouragement; he who is giving, do with liberality; he who is governing, do with diligence; he who is showing-mercy on another, do with joyfulness.
12:9 Let the love* be without hypocrisy, abhorring evil things, joining yourselves to good. 12:10 Be tenderly loving to one another in the love of the brethren; be the leader for one another in honor; 12:11 not lazy in diligence but zealous in spirit; serving* the Lord; 12:12 rejoicing in hope; enduring in affliction; persevering in prayer; 12:13 sharing in the needs of the holy-ones; pursuing hospitality. 12:14 Speak well of those who are persecuting you*; speak well and do not curse. 12:15 Rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who are weeping. 12:16 Be mindful of the same things toward one another. Do not be mindful of the exalted things, but involve yourself with the humble. Do not become too prudent with yourselves. 12:17 Give to no one evil in exchange-for evil. Plan-for good things before all men. 12:18 If possible, what is from you should be at peace with all men.
12:19 Beloved, do not be avenging yourselves, but give a chance for the wrath of God; for* it has been written, ‘Vengeance is for me. I will repay, says the Lord.’ {Deut. 32:25} 12:20 Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for* in doing this, you will pile up hot-coals of fire upon his head. 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
[Romans 13]
13:1 Let every soul be subject to the authorities which are superior to him; for* there is no authority except what is from God, and the authorities which are, have been appointed by God. 13:2 So-then he who is resisting the authority, is withstanding the commandment of God and those who withstand will receive judgment for themselves. 13:3 For* rulers are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil works. And you do not wish to be afraid of the authority, do you? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 13:4 for* he is a servant of God to you *for good. But if you practice evil, be afraid; for* he is not wearing the sword vainly; for* he is a servant of God, an avenger *for wrath to him who is doing evil. 13:5 Hence it is a necessity to be subject to him, not only because of the wrath, but also because of conscience. 13:6 For* you* are also paying taxes because of this; for* they are ministers* of God, persevering *for this same thing. 13:7 Therefore give to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute; tax to whom tax; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love* one another; for* he who loves* another has fulfilled the law. 13:9 For* this, ‘You will not commit adultery, You will not murder, You will not steal, You will not covet and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, in this: ‘You will love* your neighbor like yourself.’ {Ex. 20:13-15, 17; Lev. 19:18} 13:10 Love* works no ill to his neighbor. Therefore love* is the fulfillment of the law.
13:11 Also this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour we should be aroused out of sleep; for* now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. 13:12 The night has progressed and the day has drawn near; therefore we should place away from ourselves the works of darkness and should clothe ourselves with the weapon of light. 13:13 We should walk decently, like in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sleeping-around and unbridled-lusts, not in strife and jealousy. 13:14 But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not practice forethought *for the lusts of the flesh.
[Romans 14]
14:1 But receive him who is weak in the faith, yet not *for the discerning which comes from reasonings. 14:2 One man has faith to eat all things; but he who is weak eats herbs. 14:3 Do not let him who eats scorn him who does not eat, and do not let him who does not eat judge him who eats; for* God has received him. 14:4 Who are you who is judging another’s domestic servant? He stands or falls to his own lord. Now, he will be made to stand; for* God has power to make him stand. 14:5 One man is judging one day above another; another is judging every day the same. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind. 14:6 He who is mindful of the day, is mindful of it to the Lord and he who is not mindful of the day, is not mindful of it to the Lord and he who eats, eats to the Lord, for* he gives-thanks to God. And he who does not eat, he does not eat to the Lord and gives-thanks to God. 14:7 For* none of us is living to himself and none dies to himself. 14:8 For* in both, if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord; therefore in both, if we live or die, we are the Lord's. 14:9 For* Christ both died and rose* up and lived *for this, that* he might have lordship over both the dead and the living. 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you scorn your brother? For* we will all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. 14:11 For* it has been written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess to God.’ {Is. 45:23} 14:12 Then* consequently, each one of us will give an account concerning himself to God.
14:13 Therefore we should not judge one another any longer; but rather you* judge this: you are not to place a stumbling block or offense in the way of the brother. 14:14 I know and have confidence in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is desecrated through itself, except to him who counts something to be desecrated, to him it is desecrated. 14:15 But if your brother is made sorrowful because of food, you no longer walk according to love*. Do not destroy him, on behalf of whom Christ died, with your food. 14:16 Then* do not let your* good be blasphemed; 14:17 for* the kingdom of God is not about food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 14:18 For* he who is serving* Christ in these things is well pleasing to God and proven by men. 14:19 Then* consequently, we may pursue the things of peace and the things for building up one another. 14:20 Do not tear-down the work of God because of food. All things indeed are clean; but it is evil to that man who eats through a stumbling block. 14:21 It is good not to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything in which your brother stumbles or is offended or is weak. 14:22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God! He who is not judging himself in what he is approving, is fortunate. 14:23 But he is making distinction has been condemned if he eats, because he does not eat out of faith, and whatever is not out of faith is sin.
14:24 Now to him who is able to establish you* according to my good-news and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept-silent in times eternal, 14:25 but now is manifested and by the prophetic Scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known to all the nations to obedience of faith; 14:26 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ: to whom is the glory forever. Amen.
[Romans 15]
15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the powerless and not to please ourselves. 15:2 Let each one of us please his neighbor *for what is good toward building him up. 15:3 For* also Christ did not please himself; but, as it has been written, ‘The reproaches of those who are reproaching you fell upon me.’ {Ps. 69:9} 15:4 For* as many things as were written beforehand were written *for our instruction, in order that through endurance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 15:5 Now the God of endurance and encouragement gives to you* to be mindful of the same thing with one another according to Christ Jesus, 15:6 that* you* may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ united with one mouth. 15:7 Hence receive one another, just-as Christ also received you*, to the glory of God. 15:8 But I say that Christ Jesus has become a servant of the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God, *that* he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 15:9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God on behalf of his mercy; as it has been written, ‘Therefore I will profess you among the Gentiles and sing-praise to your name.’ {Ps. 18:49} 15:10 And again he says, ‘You* Gentiles be joyous with his people.’ {Deut. 32:43} 15:11 And again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you* Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.’ {Ps. 117:1} 15:12 And again, Isaiah says, ‘There will be the root of Jesse and he who rises* up to rule over the Gentiles; upon him the Gentiles will hope.’ {Is. 11:1, 10} 15:13 Now the God of hope may fill you* with all joy and peace in believing, *that* you* may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
15:14 And my brethren, I also have confidence in myself concerning you*, that you* yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, also able to admonish one another. 15:15 But I write more-daringly to you* brethren in part, as reminding you* again, because of the grace which was given to me by God, 15:16 *that* I might be a minister* of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, doing the sacred work of the good-news of God, that* the offering up of the Gentiles might become acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
15:17 Therefore I have my boasting in Christ Jesus in the things pertaining to God. 15:18 For* I will not dare to speak of anything except those which Christ worked through me, *for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and works, 15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So-then, I have fulfilled the good-news of Christ from Jerusalem and the surrounding area, as far as Illyricum. 15:20 And so, I am making it my aim to proclaim the good-news, not where Christ was already named, that* I might not build upon another’s foundation; 15:21 but, as it has been written, ‘They will see, to whom it was not reported concerning him. And those who have not heard will understand.’ {Is. 52:15}
15:22 Hence also, I was hindered these many times from coming to you*, 15:23 but now, having no longer a place in these districts and having a longing to come to you* from many years ago. 15:24 Like whenever I travel through toward Spain, I will come to you*, (for* I am hoping to see you* as I go through and to be sent onward by you*, if first in part from you*, that I should be filled,)– 15:25 but now, I am traveling to Jerusalem, serving the holy-ones. 15:26 For* Macedonia and Achaia were delighted to make* a certain generosity to the poor among the holy-ones who are in Jerusalem. 15:27 For* they were delighted and they are their debtors. For* if the Gentiles have been sharing in the spiritual things of them, they owe it to them also to minister* to them in fleshly things. 15:28 Therefore when I have accomplished this and have sealed this fruit to them, I will go into Spain through you*. 15:29 And I know that, when I come to you*, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the good-news of Christ.
15:30 Now brethren, I am encouraging you* through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love* of the Spirit, that you* struggle together with me, and on my behalf in your* prayers to God; 15:31 that* I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that* my service which I have *for Jerusalem may become acceptable to the holy-ones; 15:32 that* I may come to you* in joy through the will of God and I may rest together with you*. 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you* all. Amen.
[Romans 16]
16:1 I commend to you* Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of my needs from the congregation in Cenchreae: 16:2 that* you* may receive her in the Lord, worthy of the holy-ones and that* you* may stand by her in whatever she has need from you*. For* she herself has also become an assistant of many and of me myself.
16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 16:4 who have risked their own necks on behalf of my life; whom I not only give-thanks, but also all the congregations of the Gentiles; 16:5 and greet the congregation that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Achaia to Christ. 16:6 Greet Mary, who labored much *for us. 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives and my fellow captives, who are notable even among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me. 16:8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 16:9 Greet Urbanus our fellow worker in Christ and Stachys my beloved. 16:10 Greet Apelles, the proven, in Christ. Greet those who are from the household of Aristobulus. 16:11 Greet Herodion my relative. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, that are in the Lord. 16:12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who are laboring in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. 16:13 Greet Rufus the chosen in the Lord and his mother and mine. 16:14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Hermas, Patrobas and the brethren who are with them. 16:15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister and Olympas and all the holy-ones who are with them. 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The congregations of Christ greet you*.
16:17 Now brethren, I am encouraging you*, note and shun away from them those who are the cause of dissensions and offenses contrary to the teaching which you* learned and are practicing. 16:18 For* such are not serving* our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and they deceive the hearts of the guiltless through their smooth-talk and blessings.
16:19 For* your* obedience has reached out to all men. Therefore I rejoice over you*; but I wish for you* to be wise as to what is good and harmless to what is evil. 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your* feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you*.
16:21 Timothy my fellow worker greets you*, and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. 16:22 I Tertius, who writes this letter, greet you* in the Lord. 16:23 Gaius greets you*, my host and of the whole congregation. Erastus the steward of the city greets you* and Quartus the brother. 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with all of you*. Amen.
{This section in the Majority Text is located as Romans 14:24 - 14:26.}
16:25 (14:24) Now to him who is able to establish you* according to my good-news and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept-silent in times eternal, 16:26 (14:25) but now is manifested and by the prophetic Scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known to all the nations to obedience of faith; 16:27 (14:26 ) to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ: to whom is the glory forever. Amen.
Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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