Romans 11

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Does it mean God has abandoned His people? Absolutely not! After all, I too am a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin, a proud Israelite.

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

God has not abandoned His chosen people, those He knew before time. Don't you remember what the scriptures say about Elijah? How he pleaded with God against Israel, complaining about them.

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

God, they've murdered your messengers and destroyed your sacred places. I'm the only one left, and now they're after me.

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

But what does God's response to him say? I have kept for myself seven thousand men, who have never surrendered to the idol of Baal.

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Even now, a chosen few remain, blessed by the grace of God.

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

If it's a gift, it's not earned by actions. If it's earned, it's not a gift. Gifts are freely given, actions are rewarded. They can't be the same thing.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

So what's the result? Israel didn't find what it was searching for. Only the chosen ones found it, while the others were left in the dark.

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

As written, God has given them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear His truth, and it remains so even today.

And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

David passionately declares, "May their feast become their downfall, their trap, their obstacle, and their deserved punishment."

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

May their vision be clouded, preventing them from seeing, and their backs forever bent.

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

So, did they trip up so badly that they can't recover? Absolutely not! Instead, their missteps have opened the door for others to find salvation, stirring a desire within them to reclaim what they've lost.

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

If their downfall brought wealth to the world, and their loss brought riches to others, imagine the blessings their success would bring.

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

As an apostle serving you, the non-Jews, I take great pride in my mission.

If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

If somehow I can make my own people jealous and so save even a few of them, I would.

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

If letting them go brings peace to the world, wouldn't welcoming them back be like bringing life to the dead?

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

If the first seed is pure, so is the whole harvest. If the tree's origin is sacred, its branches are too.

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

If some branches were snapped off, and you, a wild olive tree, were grafted in their place, sharing the nourishment from the olive tree's root, wouldn't you be grateful?

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Don't brag about being better than others. If you do, remember, you're not supporting the foundation, the foundation is supporting you.

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

You might argue, "The branches were snapped off so I could be grafted in."

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Due to their lack of faith, they were cast aside, while you remain strong through your belief. Don't be arrogant, instead, be humble and cautious.

For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

If God didn't spare the natural branches, be careful, as you too might not be spared from his judgment.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

See both the love and the strictness of God: those who fell face His sternness, but you receive His love, if you stay in His goodness. If not, you too will be cut off.

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

If they let go of their doubts, they too can be reconnected, for God has the power to restore their faith.

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

If you, a wild olive branch, could be grafted into a cultivated olive tree, imagine how much easier it would be for the original branches to rejoin their own tree.

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Dear friends, I don't want you to be unaware of this secret, so you don't become arrogant. A part of Israel has been temporarily blinded, until the complete number of non-Jews has joined us.

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Thus, every soul in Israel will find salvation. As foretold, a Savior will emerge from Zion, eradicating all wickedness from Jacob's lineage.

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

This is my solemn promise to them, that I will erase their wrongdoings.

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.

Regarding the good news, they are adversaries for your benefit. But when it comes to their chosen status, they are cherished because of their forefathers.

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

God's blessings and purpose for you are unwavering and unchanging.

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Even though you once doubted God, His mercy has found you in others' disbelief.

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

In the same way, they now do not believe, so that through the mercy God has shown you, they too may receive mercy.

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

God has shut everyone up together in unbelief, so that He can show His mercy to all.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Oh, the profound wealth of God's wisdom and knowledge! His decisions are beyond our understanding, and His paths are too complex to comprehend!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Who can truly understand God's thoughts? Who has ever given Him advice?

Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

Who has ever given anything to God that He needs to repay them?

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Everything comes from Him, exists by His power, and is intended for His glory. May He be praised forever. Amen.