The Example of Christ
1 We who are strong have an obligation to tbear with the failings of the uweak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us vplease his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For wChrist did not please himself, but as it is written, x“The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days ywas written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to zlive in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
8 For I tell you that aChrist became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
b“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10 And again it says,
c“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
d“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
e“The froot of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all gjoy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,1 that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to hinstruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of ithe grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus jto the Gentiles in the priestly service of the kgospel of God, so that lthe offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what mChrist has accomplished through me to nbring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 oby the power of signs and wonders, pby the power of the Spirit of God—so that qfrom Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, rnot where Christ has already been named, lest I sbuild on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,
t“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22 This is the reason why uI have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 vI hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem wbringing aid to the saints. 26 xFor Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For yif the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,2 I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing3 of Christ.
30 zI appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the alove of the Spirit, bto cstrive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be ddelivered from the eunbelievers in Judea, and that my service ffor Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and gbe hrefreshed in your company. 33 May the iGod of peace be with you all. Amen.
Personal Greetings
1 jI commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant4 of the church at kCenchreae, 2 that you may lwelcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
3 Greet mPrisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who nrisked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also othe church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert5 to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,6 my kinsmen and my pfellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles,7 and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers8 who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 qGreet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Final Instructions and Greetings
17 rI appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who scause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own tappetites,9 and by usmooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For vyour obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and winnocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon xcrush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
21 yTimothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
22 zI Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23 aGaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.10
Doxology
25 bNow to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept csecret for long ages 26 but has now been ddisclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the eobedience of faith— 27 fto the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Deliver Me, O Lord, from Evil Men
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 xDeliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart
and ystir up wars continually.
3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,
and zunder their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread a net;1
beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah
6 aI say to the Lord, You are my God;
give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!
7 O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their2 evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah
9 As for the head of those who surround me,
blet the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 cLet burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire,
into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12 I know that dthe Lord will emaintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
fthe upright shall dwell in your presence.
