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.

1So I ask: did God push his own people away? No, he did not! I am an Israelite myself. I come from Abraham's family, from the tribe of Benjamin.

NoteThe King James Version says "God forbid." It is an old way of saying a strong "No, not at all!"

2God 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,

2God did not push away the people he chose long ago. Do you know what the Bible says about Elijah? He spoke to God against Israel.

NoteThe King James Version writes Elijah's name as "Elias," and "wot ye not" simply means "do you not know."

3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

3He said, "Lord, they killed your prophets, the people who told others what you said. They knocked down your altars. I am the only one left, and they want to kill me."

4But 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.

4And what did God say back to him? "I have kept seven thousand men for myself. They have not bowed down to the false god Baal."

5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

5It is the same right now. A small group is left, and God chose them because he is kind.

6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

6If God chose them because he is kind, then they did not earn it by working. A gift you earn is not really a gift at all.

7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

7So what happened? Israel looked hard for something and did not find it. The ones God chose did find it. The rest became stubborn.

8(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.

8The Bible says it this way: God let their minds go sleepy. He gave them eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. It is still that way today.

9And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

9David said this too: "Let their own dinner table become a trap and a net. Let it trip them and pay them back.

10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

10Let their eyes go dark so they cannot see. Let their backs stay bent down."

11I 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.

11So I ask: did they trip so badly that they can never get up? No! But when they went wrong, rescue came to people who are not Jewish. That was to make Israel want what they have.

12Now 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?

12Their falling brought good things to the whole world. Their loss brought good things to other nations. So think how much better it will be when all of them come in!

13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

13Now I am talking to you who are not Jewish. God sent me as his messenger to you. I am glad to do that job.

14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

14I hope my own people will see it and want it too. Then some of them will be saved.

15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

15God set them aside, and the world was brought back to him. So when they are welcomed back, it will be like the dead coming alive.

16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

16If the first piece of the dough belongs to God, the whole batch does too. If the root of a tree belongs to God, so do its branches.

NoteThe "firstfruit" here is the first bit of bread dough, which was given to God. The "lump" is the rest of the batch of dough.

17And 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;

17Think of an olive tree. Some branches were broken off. You were a wild olive branch, and God joined you onto the tree. Now you share the good food that comes up from the root.

18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

18So do not brag about the branches that were broken off. Remember, you do not hold up the root. The root holds you up.

19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

19You might say, "Those branches were broken off so that I could be put on."

20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

20That is true. They were broken off because they would not believe. You are standing there because you trust God. So do not be proud. Be careful.

21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

21God did not spare the branches that first grew on that tree. So he will not spare you either.

22Behold 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.

22Look at how kind God is, and how hard he can be. He was hard on the ones who fell. He is kind to you, if you stay in his kindness. If you do not, you will be cut off too.

23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

23And if they stop refusing to believe, God will join them back on the tree. He is able to do that.

24For 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?

24You were cut from a wild olive tree and joined onto a good one. That is not how it normally works. So it will be much easier to join the real branches back onto their own tree.

25For 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.

25Brothers and sisters, I want you to know this secret, so you do not think you are clever. Part of Israel has gone hard for now. It will last until the full number of other nations has come in.

26And 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:

26And so all Israel will be saved. The Bible says, "The Rescuer will come from Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. He will turn Jacob's family away from wrong.

27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

27And this is my promise to them: I will take their sins away."

28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

28About the good news, they are enemies, and that has helped you. About God's choosing, he loves them because of their fathers long ago.

29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

29God does not take back his gifts, and he does not take back his call.

NoteThe King James Version says God's gifts are "without repentance." That does not mean people being sorry. It means God does not change his mind.

30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

30You once would not obey God. Now God has been kind to you, because they would not obey.

31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

31In the same way, they will not obey now. But God has been kind to you, and through that they will be shown kindness too.

32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

32God has shut every person up inside their own disobeying. He did this so he could be kind to every person.

33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

33How deep God's wisdom and knowing go! No one can reach the bottom of what he decides. No one can follow the paths he takes.

34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

34Who has ever known what the Lord is thinking? Who has ever given him advice?

35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

35Who has ever given God something first, so that God has to pay it back?

36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

36Everything comes from him. Everything happens through him. Everything is for him. Give him glory forever. Amen.