A Remnant Chosen by Grace

1Then I say, Did God cast away his people? it could not be so. For I am indeed an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God did not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says in Elijah, how he makes intercession to God against Israel? 3Lord, they have slain thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars: and I am left alone, and they are seeking my life. 4But what says the answer to him? I have left unto myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 5Thus then there is even at this time a remnant left according to the election of grace: 6and if by grace, it is not at all by works: since in that case grace is no more grace.

7What then? Israel did not attain that which he was seeking, but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:

8as has been written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day.

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

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

The Ingrafting of the Gentiles

11Then I say; Whether did they stumble that they may fall? it could not be so: but by their fall, salvation came to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy. 12But if the fall of them was the riches of the world, and the depletion of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13But I speak to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry: 14if perchance I may provoke my flesh, and save some of them. 15For if the casting away of them was the reconciling of the world, what will their reception be, but life from the dead? 16But if the first fruit was holy, the lump is also: if the root was holy, the branches are also.

17And if certain ones of the branches were broken off, and you being a wild olive-tree are grafted in among them, and have become a partaker of the root of the fatness of the olive-tree; 18boast not against the branches: but if you boast, you are not bearing the root, but the root you. 19Then you will say, The branches were broken off, that I may be grafted in. 20Beautifully; they were broken off by unbelief, but you stand by faith, Think not high things, but fear. 21For if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22Then behold the goodness and severity of God: upon those who fell indeed, severity; but upon you the goodness of God, if you may abide in his goodness: since you too may be cut off. 23But these also, if they may not abide in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you, having been cut off the olive tree which is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into the good olive tree: how much more shall these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

All Israel Will Be Saved

25I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, as to this mystery, in order that you may not he wise with yourselves, that blindness in part has happened unto Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles may come in;

26and so all Israel shall be saved: as has been written, A leader shall come out of Zion, shall turn ungodliness from Jacob.

27And this is the covenant with me unto them, that I may take away their sins.

28They are enemies indeed, as touching the gospel, for your sakes: but beloved with reference to election for the sake of the fathers: 29for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30For as you at one time were disobedient to God, but now you have received mercy through their disobedience, 31even also these were now disobedient, in order that through the mercy shown to you they themselves may now also obtain mercy. 32For God has shut up all in unbelief, in order that he may have mercy on all.

A Hymn of Praise

33O the depth of the riches of the wisdom of the knowledge of God! His judgments are unsearchable, and his ways past tracing out. 34For who has known the mind of the Lord? who became his counsellor? 35or who has given unto him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36Because of Him, and through him, and unto him, are all things: to him be glory forever: amen.