1I say then, Has God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2God has not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture said of Elias? how he makes intercession to God against Israel saying,
3Lord, they have killed your prophets, and dig down your altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4But what said the answer of God to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for; but the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
8(According as it is written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) to this day.
9And David said, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense to them:
10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.
11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12Now 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 fullness?
13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office:
14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bore not the root, but the root you.
19You will say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear:
21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you.
22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off.
23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25For I would not, brothers, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
26And 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:
27For this is my covenant to them, when I shall take away their sins.
28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30For as you in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy on all.
33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has been his counselor?
35Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again?
36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.