1So I ask: has God thrown away his people? Certainly not. For I myself am an Israelite, from the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2God has not thrown away his people, whom he knew beforehand. Do you not know what the scripture says about Elias? He pleads with God against Israel, saying,
3"Lord, they have killed your prophets, and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life."
4But what was God's answer to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal."
5In the same way, at this present time also, there is a remnant chosen by grace.
6And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. If it were, grace would no longer be grace. But if it is by works, then it is no longer grace. If it were, work would no longer be work.
7What then? Israel did not obtain what it was looking for. Those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were made blind,
8just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that do not see, and ears that do not hear," right up to this day.
9And David says, "Let their table become a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a payment back to them."
10"Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and bend their backs down for ever."
11So I ask: did they stumble so that they would fall? Certainly not. Rather, through their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.
12Now if their fall means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean!
13I am speaking to you Gentiles. Since I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I honour the work I have been given,
14hoping that somehow I may stir up my own people to jealousy, and save some of them.
15For if their being cast away means the world is brought back to God, what will their being received mean, but life from the dead?
16If the first part of the dough is holy, the whole lump is holy too. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17Some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them. Now you share with them the root and the richness of the olive tree.
18Do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember: you do not hold up the root, but the root holds you up.
19You will say then, "The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."
20True. They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be proud, but be afraid.
21For if God did not spare the natural branches, take care, or he may not spare you either.
22Look then at the goodness and the severity of God. He was severe to those who fell. But to you he is good, if you continue in his goodness. If not, you also will be cut off.
23And they too, if they do not go on in unbelief, will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again.
24You were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and grafted, against nature, into a good olive tree. How much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!
25Brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, in case you think yourselves wise: blindness has come on part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Sion, and will turn ungodliness away from Jacob."
27"And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins."
28As far as the gospel goes, they are enemies for your sake. But as far as God's choosing goes, they are loved for the sake of their fathers.
29For God does not change his mind about the gifts he gives and the people he calls.
30In the past you did not believe God, but now you have received mercy through their unbelief.
31In the same way they have not believed now, so that through the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy.
32For God has shut them all up in unbelief, so that he might have mercy on them all.
33How deep are the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How impossible it is to search out his judgments, and to trace his ways!
34"For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his adviser?"
35"Or who has given to him first, so that it should be paid back to him?"
36For all things come from him, and through him, and to him. To him be glory for ever. Amen.