Romans 10

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

1Brothers and sisters, I want my people Israel to be saved. That is what my heart wants. That is what I ask God for.

2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

2I can say this about them. They work hard for God. But they do not really know him.

3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

3God has his own way to make people right with him. They did not know about it. They tried to be good their own way instead. So they did not accept God's way.

4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

4Christ is what the law was always pointing to. Everyone who trusts him is made right with God.

Note"The end of the law" here does not mean the law stopped mattering. The word means the goal, the place something was heading all along.

5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

5Moses wrote about being right with God by keeping the law. He said, "The person who does these things will live by them."

6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

6But being right with God by trusting him says something else. It says, "Do not think, 'Who will go up to heaven?'" That would mean bringing Christ down here.

7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

7It also says, "Do not think, 'Who will go down to the deep place below?'" That would mean bringing Christ back up from the dead.

8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

8So what does it say? It says, "The message is close to you. It is in your mouth and in your heart." That is the message about trusting God. It is the message we tell people.

9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

9Say out loud that Jesus is Lord. Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. Then you will be saved.

10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

10You trust him with your heart, and God makes you right with him. You say it with your mouth, and you are saved.

11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

11The Bible says it this way. Anyone who trusts him will never be let down.

12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

12There is no difference between Jews and other people. The same Lord is Lord of them all. He gives good things to everyone who calls to him.

Note"Greek" is a way of saying everyone who is not Jewish.

13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

13Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

14But how can people call to him if they do not trust him? How can they trust him if they never heard about him? How can they hear if no one tells them?

15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

15And how can anyone tell them if no one sends them? The Bible says, "How welcome are the feet of people who bring good news!"

16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

16But not everyone accepted the good news. Isaiah said, "Lord, who believed what we told them?"

17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

17So trust starts with hearing. And hearing happens when God's message is told.

18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

18But did they not hear it? Yes, they did. The Bible says, "Their voice went out to the whole earth. Their words went to the far ends of the world."

19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

19Did Israel not understand? Moses said it first. God said, "I will make you jealous with people who are not even a nation. I will make you angry with a nation that does not understand."

20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

20Then Isaiah said something very bold. God said, "People who were not looking for me found me. I showed myself to people who never asked for me."

21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

21But about Israel, God says, "All day long I held out my hands to them. They would not listen, and they argued back."

Note"Gainsaying" is an old word. It means talking back or arguing against someone.