Romans

1And we ought — we who are strong — to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves;

2for let each one of us please the neighbour for good, unto edification,

3for even the Christ did not please himself, but, according as it hath been written, 'The reproaches of those reproaching Thee fell upon me;'

4for, as many things as were written before, for our instruction were written before, that through the endurance, and the exhortation of the Writings, we might have the hope.

5And may the God of the endurance, and of the exhortation, give to you to have the same mind toward one another, according to Christ Jesus;

6that with one accord — with one mouth — ye may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;

7wherefore receive ye one another, according as also the Christ did receive us, to the glory of God.

8And I say Jesus Christ to have become a ministrant of circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises to the fathers,

9and the nations for kindness to glorify God, according as it hath been written, 'Because of this I will confess to Thee among nations, and to Thy name I will sing praise,'

10and again it saith, 'Rejoice ye nations, with His people;'

11and again, 'Praise the Lord, all ye nations; and laud Him, all ye peoples;'

12and again, Isaiah saith, 'There shall be the root of Jesse, and he who is rising to rule nations — upon him shall nations hope;'

13and the God of the hope shall fill you with all joy and peace in the believing, for your abounding in the hope in power of the Holy Spirit.

14And I am persuaded, my brethren — I myself also — concerning you, that ye yourselves also are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, able also one another to admonish;

15and the more boldly I did write to you, brethren, in part, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me by God,

16for my being a servant of Jesus Christ to the nations, acting as priest in the good news of God, that the offering up of the nations may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17I have, then, a boasting in Christ Jesus, in the things pertaining to God,

18for I will not dare to speak anything of the things that Christ did not work through me, to obedience of nations, by word and deed,

19in power of signs and wonders, in power of the Spirit of God; so that I, from Jerusalem, and in a circle as far as Illyricum, have fully preached the good news of the Christ;

20and so counting it honour to proclaim good news, not where Christ was named — that upon another's foundation I might not build —

21but according as it hath been written, 'To whom it was not told concerning him, they shall see; and they who have not heard, shall understand.'

22Wherefore, also, I was hindered many times from coming unto you,

23and now, no longer having place in these parts, and having a longing to come unto you for many years,

24when I may go on to Spain I will come unto you, for I hope in going through, to see you, and by you to be set forward thither, if of you first, in part, I shall be filled.

25And, now, I go on to Jerusalem, ministering to the saints;

26for it pleased Macedonia and Achaia well to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who [are] in Jerusalem;

27for it pleased well, and their debtors they are, for if in their spiritual things the nations did participate, they ought also, in the fleshly things, to minister to them.

28This, then, having finished, and having sealed to them this fruit, I will return through you, to Spain;

29and I have known that coming unto you — in the fulness of the blessing of the good news of Christ I shall come.

30And I call upon you, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in the prayers for me unto God,

31that I may be delivered from those not believing in Judea, and that my ministration, that [is] for Jerusalem, may become acceptable to the saints;

32that in joy I may come unto you, through the will of God, and may be refreshed with you,

33and the God of the peace [be] with you all. Amen.

Accept One Another

1We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

3For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

4For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

5Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus,

6so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles

7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.

8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

9so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles;I will sing hymns to Your name.”

10Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”

11And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,and extol Him, all you peoples.”

12And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear,One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”

13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

15However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me

16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God.

18I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,

19by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God.So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

20In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

21Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about Him will see,and those who have not heard will understand.”

22That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul’s Travel Plans

23But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you,

24I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.

25Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.

26For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

27They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.

28So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.

29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessingof Christ.

30Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.

31Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,

32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

33The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.