^1. BRETHREN, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

^2. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

^3. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

^4. For Christ is the [1] end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

^5. For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is [3] based on law shall live [2] by that righteousness.

^6. But the righteousness [4] based on faith speaks as follows: « DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, "WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down),

^7. or "WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).»

^8. But what does it say? « THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart» -- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

^9. [5] that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

^10. for with the heart a person believes, [7] resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [6] resulting in salvation.

^11. For the Scripture says, « WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE [8] DISAPPOINTED.»

^12. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

^13. for « WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.»

^14. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

^15. How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, « HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO [9] BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!»

^16. However, they did not all heed the [10] good news; for Isaiah says, « LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?»

^17. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word [11] of Christ.

^18. But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; « THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE [12] WORLD.»

^19. But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, « I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU.»

^20. And Isaiah is very bold and says, « I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME.»

^21. But as for Israel He says, « ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE.»