1I SAY, then, has God rejected his people? Far be it. For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God has not rejected his people which he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah? How he complained to God against Israel, saying, 3My LORD, they have killed your prophets and have demolished your altars; and I am left alone; and they seek my life. 4And it was said to him in a vision: Behold I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not knelt on their knees to worship Baal. 5Even so at the present time a remnant is preserved, elected by the grace. 6And if by grace, then it is not by works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if by works, then it is not by grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7What then? Israel has not obtained that which he sought; but the elected ones have obtained it, and the rest were blinded in their hearts.

8As it is written, God has given them a stubborn spirit, eyes that cannot see, and ears that cannot hear, to this very day.

9And David said, Let their table become a snare, and a trap and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them.

10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and let their backs be bowed down always.

11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? Far be it. But rather by their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to make them zealous. 12Now if their stumbling has resulted in riches to the world, and their condemnation in riches to the Gentiles; how much more is their restoration? 13It is to you Gentiles that I speak, inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, and perhaps magnify my ministry: 14But if I am able to make those who are my flesh zealous, I may thus save some of them. 15And if their rejection has resulted in reconciliation of the world, how much more will their restoration be? Indeed it will be life from the dead. 16For if the first fruit is holy, the rest of the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17And if some of the branches were cut off, and you who are a branch of a wild olive tree have been grafted in their place, and you have become a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Do not boast over the branches. For if you boast, it is not you who sustains the root, but the root sustains you. 19Perhaps you may say, The branches were cut off that I might be grafted in their place. 20Well; they were cut off because of their unbelief, but you exist by faith. Be not highminded, but fear God. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, it may well be he will not spare you. 22Consider therefore the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but on you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And even they, if they do not abide in their unbelief, will be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you who have been cut from the wild olive tree, which is natural to you, and grafted contrary to your nature to become a good olive tree: how much more fruitful would they be, if they were grafted into their natural olive tree?

25I am desirous, my brethren, that you should know this mystery, so that you may not be wise in your own conceits; for blindness of heart has to some degree befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in.

26And then all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, A deliverer shall come out of Zion, and he shall remove ungodliness from Jacob:

27And then they shall have the same covenant from me, when I have forgiven their sins.

28Now according to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But according to election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. 29For God does not withdraw his gift and his call. 30Just as you were formerly disobedient to God and have now obtained mercy because of their disobedience, 31Likewise, they are also disobedient now to the mercy which is upon you, that there may be mercy upon them also. 32For God has included all men in disobedience, that he might have mercy on every man.

33O the depth of the riches, the wisdom, and the knowledge of God! for no man has searched his judgment, and his ways are inscrutable. 34For who has known the mind of the LORD? or who has been his counsellor? 35Or who has first given to him and then received from him? 36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to him be glory and blessing, for ever and ever. Amen.