1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings 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 to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews 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 sing praises to him, all you peoples."
12And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
15I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me
16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
18I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done- -
19by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
20It has always been my ambition 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."
22This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
23But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you,
24I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of 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 the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
28So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way.
29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
30I 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 rescued 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 you all. Amen.