Romans

Paul's letter explaining salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the importance of living a holy life.

Chapter 11

1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

*Am I saying God rejected his people? No way! Because I'm also a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin, an Israeli.

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

*God has not rejected his people whom he knew from the beginning. Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah? How he prayed to God for Israel, saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

*Lord, people have hurt your messengers and destroyed your places of worship; I'm the only one left, and they want to take my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

*But what does God tell him? He says, "I have saved seven thousand people for myself who didn't worship Baal's statue."

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

*Just like that, right now too, there's a group of people who are chosen by kindness.

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

*If it's through grace, then it's not about doing good deeds; otherwise, grace wouldn't be grace. But if it is based on deeds, then it's not grace anymore; otherwise, the deed isn't a deed.

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

*So what does this mean? Israel didn't get what they wanted; but the chosen ones did, and the others couldn't see it clearly.

8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

*As it says, God has made people sleepy, with eyes that can't see and ears that can't hear; this is still true today.

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

*And David says, "Let their table become a trap, a snare, an obstacle, and a punishment for them."

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

*Make their eyes unable to see, so they can't look, and constantly bend their backs.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

*So, do they lose their way and fail? No, instead, their failure brings salvation to non-Jewish people, to make the non-Jewish people envious.

12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

*If the loss of them brings wealth to the world, and reducing them brings wealth to non-believers, how much greater will their abundance be?

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

*I talk to non-Jewish people because my job is to bring them the message. I really value my role as a messenger to non-Jewish people.

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

*If in any way possible, I want to motivate my relatives to be better, so that I can save some of them.

15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

*If getting rid of them brings reconciliation, then accepting them again must be like bringing life back to the dead.

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

*If the first part is holy, the whole thing is holy too; and if the main part is holy, then all the branches are holy as well.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

*If some branches break off, and you, as a wild olive tree, are joined with them, and share their root and goodness, then you're part of the olive tree too.

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

*Don't brag about the branches. If you do brag, you're not connected to the root, but the root is what supports you.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

*You will say, "The branches were removed so that I could be joined in."

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

*Because they didn't believe, they were disconnected, and you remain standing through faith. Don't be proud; instead, be cautious.

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

*If God didn't save the original branches, be careful because he might not save you either.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

*So see how God is both kind and strict. He shows strictness to those who turned away, but kindness to you if you keep being kind. If not, you'll face the same fate as them.

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

*If they don't keep disbelieving, they will be joined in; because God can bring them back in.

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

*If you were taken from a wild olive tree and attached to a good one against nature's way, how much more will the natural branches be connected to their own olive tree?

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

*I don't want you, my friends, to be unaware of this secret. I fear that you might become proud because of it. Some of Israel is blind, and this will continue until all the non-Jewish people join us.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

*So everyone in Israel will be saved. It's written that a Savior will come from Zion and remove sinfulness from the people of Jacob.

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

*This means that my promise to them is that I will remove their wrongdoings.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

*Regarding the good news, people are against you, but when it comes to choosing them, they are loved because of the ancestors.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

*God's gifts and choices can't be changed or regretted.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

*In the past, when you didn't believe God, you still received mercy because of others' disbelief.

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

*Just like those others who didn't believe, these people also haven't believed yet. Maybe through your kindness, they can get mercy too.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

*God has brought everyone to not believe, so he can show mercy to all.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

*Oh, how great are the wealth of God's wisdom and knowledge! Who can understand his decisions, and his actions cannot be traced.

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

*Who has known the Lord's thoughts? Or who has advised him?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

*Who gave something first and will get it back later?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

*All things come from him, go through him, and belong to him. He deserves endless glory. Amen.

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