Romans 11

1So I ask: Did God reject His people? No, never! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

2God did not reject His people, whom He chose long ago. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he pleaded with God against Israel:

3Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me?

4And what was God's answer to him? I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed down to worship Baal.

5So in the same way, at the present time, there is a small group that God has chosen by His grace.

6And if it is by grace, then it is no longer based on works; if it were, grace would not be grace.

7So what then? The people of Israel did not get what they were looking for. The chosen ones got it, but the rest were made hard,

8as the Scripture says: God gave them a dull spirit, eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, right up to this very day.

9And David says: Let their feasts become a trap and a snare, a stumbling block and a punishment for them.

10Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.

11So I ask: Did the people stumble so badly that they fell beyond recovery? No, never! Instead, because they slipped, salvation has come to the other nations, to make Israel jealous.

12Now if their slipping means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the other nations, how much greater riches will their full return bring!

13I am speaking to you who are not Jews. As the apostle to the other nations, I take pride in my work,

14hoping somehow to make my own people jealous and so save some of them.

15For if their being set aside means the world being brought back to God, what will their being welcomed back mean, but life from the dead?

16If the first piece of dough offered to God is holy, then the whole batch is holy. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17Some of the branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in among the others. Now you share in the rich life of the olive root.

18So do not brag against those branches. If you do, remember this: you do not hold up the root; the root holds you up.

19You might say: Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.

20That is true. They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand only by faith. So do not be proud, but be careful.

21For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.

22So look at both the kindness and the strictness of God: He was strict with those who fell, but kind to you — if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

23And if they do not continue in unbelief, they will be grafted in again, because God is able to graft them in again.

24After all, you were cut from a wild olive tree and grafted, against nature, into a cultivated one. How much more easily will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!

25Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this secret, so that you will not think you are wise: Israel has become hard in part, until the full number of the other nations has come in.

26And in this way all Israel will be saved, as the Scripture says: The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn the people of Jacob away from sin.

27And this is my agreement with them: I will take away their sins.

28As far as the good news is concerned, they are God's enemies for your sake. But as far as God's choosing is concerned, they are loved because of the ancestors,

29For God never takes back His gifts or His calling.

30At one time you did not obey God, but now you have received mercy because they did not obey.

31In the same way, they have now disobeyed, so that they too may now receive mercy, because of the mercy shown to you.

32For God has allowed everyone to be bound up in disobedience, so that He can have mercy on everyone.

33Oh, how deep are the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! No one can fully understand His decisions or trace out His ways!

34For: Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His adviser?

35Who has ever given to God, so that God would owe them anything?

36For everything comes from Him, exists through Him, and is for Him. To Him be glory forever. Amen.