[1] I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
[2] God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel:
[3] “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”?
[4] And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
[5] In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
[6] And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
[7] What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
[8] as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
[9] And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
[10] May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”
[11] I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
[12] But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
[13] I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
[14] in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
[15] For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
[16] If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
[17] Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,
[18] do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
[19] You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”
[20] That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
[21] For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either.
[22] Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
[23] And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
[24] For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
[25] I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
[26] And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob.
[27] And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
[28] Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs.
[29] For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
[30] Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience,
[31] so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you.
[32] For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.
[33] O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
[34] “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
[35] “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?”
[36] For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.