Romans 11

1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Certainly not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? — 3"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life." 4But what is God’s reply to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6And if it is by grace, then it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise, grace would no longer be grace. 7What then? Israel did not obtain what it sought. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, down to this very day." 9And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 10Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever." 11So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? Certainly not! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous. 12Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean! 13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14in the hope that I may somehow arouse to jealousy the kinsmen of my flesh and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole lump is holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the rest to share the root of the olive tree, 18do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast only by faith. So do not be proud, but stand in awe. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22Therefore consider the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23And they also, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24For if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree! 25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." 28As regards the gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. 32For God has bound all men over to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all.

33Oh, the depth of the riches and of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out! 34"For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" 36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.