1So I ask, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! I am also an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
2God has not rejected his people, whom he chose beforehand. Don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? He complained to God against Israel:
3"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me."
4But what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
5In the same way, at the present time there is also a remnant chosen by grace.
6And if it is by grace, then it is no longer based on works; otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. But if it is based on works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise, work would no longer be work.
7What does this mean then? Israel did not achieve what it was striving for, but the chosen few did. The others were hardened.
8As it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, even to this day."
9And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10Let their eyes become dark, so they cannot see. Keep them always bent over.
11So I ask, did they trip so badly that they fell permanently? Absolutely not! Instead, because they stumbled, salvation came to non-Jews, to make the Jews jealous.
12Now if their stumbling brought wealth to the world, and their failure brought wealth to non-Jews, how much more blessing will come when they are fully restored?
13I am speaking to you who are non-Jews. Since I am an apostle to non-Jews, I take pride in my work,
14hoping that I might somehow make my own people (Jews) jealous and save some of them.
15For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
16If the first part of the dough offered to God is holy, then the whole batch is holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.
17But if some of the natural branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,
18don't brag as if you are better than the original branches. But if you do brag, remember that you don't support the root, the root supports you.
19You might then say, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."
20That's true; they were broken off because of their unbelief, and you remain connected because of your faith. Don't be too proud, but be careful,
21Because if God didn't spare the natural branches, he won't spare you either.
22So consider both God's kindness and his strictness. He was strict with those who fell, but he is kind to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
23And if they (the original branches) don't continue in their unbelief, they will be grafted in, because God is able to graft them in again.
24For if you, who are by nature from a wild olive tree, were cut off and, against nature, grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more easily will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?
25Brothers and sisters, I don't want you to be ignorant of this secret, so that you won't be arrogant in your own opinions: a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of non-Jews has come in.
26And in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
27This is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
28Regarding the Good News, they are enemies of God for your benefit. But regarding God's chosen plan, they are loved because of their ancestors.
29For God's gifts and his call are permanent and cannot be taken back.
30Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,
31in the same way, they have now been disobedient so that by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.
32For God has allowed everyone to be disobedient so that he may show mercy to everyone.
33Oh, how deep are the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is to understand his decisions and his ways!
34"For who has known the Lord's mind? Or who has been his adviser?"
35Or, has anyone given him something first, so that he has to repay it?
36For everything comes from him, exists through him, and returns to him. May he receive glory forever! Amen.