11Romans 11

God's Mercy on Israel

1I ask, then: Did God reject his own people? Certainly not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.Select Romans 11:1

2God has not rejected his people, whom he chose from the beginning. You know what the scripture says in the passage where Elijah pleads with God against Israel:Select Romans 11:2

3“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me.”Select Romans 11:3

4What answer did God give him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not worshiped the false god Baal.”Select Romans 11:4

5It is the same way now: there is a small number left of those whom God has chosen because of his grace.Select Romans 11:5

6His choice is based on his grace, not on what they have done. For if God's choice were based on what people do, then his grace would not be real grace.Select Romans 11:6

7What then? The people of Israel did not find what they were looking for. It was only the small group that God chose who found it; the rest grew deaf to God's call.Select Romans 11:7

8As the scripture says, “God made their minds and hearts dull; to this very day they cannot see or hear.”Select Romans 11:8

9And David says, “May they be caught and trapped at their feasts; may they fall, may they be punished!Select Romans 11:9

10May their eyes be blinded so that they cannot see; and make them bend under their troubles at all times.”Select Romans 11:10

11I ask, then: When the Jews stumbled, did they fall to their ruin? By no means! Because they sinned, salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make the Jews jealous of them.Select Romans 11:11

12The sin of the Jews brought rich blessings to the world, and their spiritual poverty brought rich blessings to the Gentiles. Then, how much greater the blessings will be when the complete number of Jews is included!Select Romans 11:12

The Salvation of the Gentiles

13I am speaking now to you Gentiles: As long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I will take pride in my work.Select Romans 11:13

14Perhaps I can make the people of my own race jealous, and so be able to save some of them.Select Romans 11:14

15For when they were rejected, all other people were changed from God's enemies into his friends. What will it be, then, when they are accepted? It will be life for the dead!Select Romans 11:15

16If the first piece of bread is given to God, then the whole loaf is his also; and if the roots of a tree are offered to God, the branches are his also.Select Romans 11:16

17Some of the branches of the cultivated olive tree have been broken off, and a branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to it. You Gentiles are like that wild olive tree, and now you share the strong spiritual life of the Jews.Select Romans 11:17

18So then, you must not despise those who were broken off like branches. How can you be proud? You are just a branch; you don't support the roots—the roots support you.Select Romans 11:18

19But you will say, “Yes, but the branches were broken off to make room for me.”Select Romans 11:19

20That is true. They were broken off because they did not believe, while you remain in place because you do believe. But do not be proud of it; instead, be afraid.Select Romans 11:20

21God did not spare the Jews, who are like natural branches; do you think he will spare you?Select Romans 11:21

22Here we see how kind and how severe God is. He is severe toward those who have fallen, but kind to you—if you continue in his kindness. But if you do not, you too will be broken off.Select Romans 11:22

23And if the Jews abandon their unbelief, they will be put back in the place where they were; for God is able to do that.Select Romans 11:23

24You Gentiles are like the branch of a wild olive tree that is broken off and then, contrary to nature, is joined to a cultivated olive tree. The Jews are like this cultivated tree; and it will be much easier for God to join these broken-off branches to their own tree again.Select Romans 11:24

God's Mercy on All

25There is a secret truth, my friends, which I want you to know, for it will keep you from thinking how wise you are. It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God.Select Romans 11:25

26And this is how all Israel will be saved. As the scripture says, “The Savior will come from Zion and remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob.Select Romans 11:26

27I will make this covenant with them when I take away their sins.”Select Romans 11:27

28Because they reject the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for the sake of you Gentiles. But because of God's choice, they are his friends because of their ancestors.Select Romans 11:28

29For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses.Select Romans 11:29

30As for you Gentiles, you disobeyed God in the past; but now you have received God's mercy because the Jews were disobedient.Select Romans 11:30

31In the same way, because of the mercy that you have received, the Jews now disobey God, in order that they also may now receive God's mercy.Select Romans 11:31

32For God has made all people prisoners of disobedience, so that he might show mercy to them all.Select Romans 11:32

Praise to God

33How great are God's riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways?Select Romans 11:33

34As the scripture says, “Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice?Select Romans 11:34

35Who has ever given him anything, so that he had to pay it back?”Select Romans 11:35

36For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.Select Romans 11:36