1 Brothers, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for my countrymen, that they may be saved.

2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, only it is a zeal without knowledge.

3 For because they were ignorant of Gods righteousness, and sought to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God.

4 For to every believer Christ is an end of law as a means of righteousness.

5 For Moses writes concerning the righteousness of the Law, saying, The man that doeth it shall live by it.

6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way. Say not in thine heart, "Who shall ascend to heaven?" - that is, to bring Christ down;

7 Nor,"who shall descend into the abyss?" - that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.

8 But what does it say? The word is near thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart. That is the very word of faith which we preach;

9 Confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God actually raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.

10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 The Scriptures say, Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.

12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, because the same Lord Jesus is all over, and is rich unto all who call upon Him;

13 for Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

14 How then shall thy call upon Him in whom they do not believe? And how are they to believe in One of whom they have never heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring a glad gospel.

16 And yet they did not all hearken to the good news; for Isaiah said, Lord, who hath believed our message?

17 So faith comes from a message heard, and the message comes from the teaching of Christ.

18 But I ask, Did they fail to hear? Yes, truly, Their sound has gone out unto all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.

19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses says. I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation; Against a Gentile nation, void of understanding, will I anger you.

20 But Isaiah speaks very boldly, I was found of those who were not seeking me, I was made manifest to those who were not asking for me.

21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have been spreading out my hands unto a disobedient and contrary people.