1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
110:1 Za 20:4; Mdo 22:23Ndugu zangu, shauku ya moyo wangu na maombi yangu kwa Mungu ni kwa ajili ya Waisraeli, kwamba waokolewe. 210:2 Mdo 21:20; 22:3; Gal 1:14; 4:17; Rum 9:32Kwa maana ninaweza nikashuhudia wazi kwamba wao wana juhudi kubwa kwa ajili ya Mungu, lakini juhudi yao haina maarifa. 310:3 Rum 1:17; 9:31; Flp 3:9Kwa kuwa hawakuijua haki itokayo kwa Mungu, wakatafuta kuweka haki yao wenyewe, hawakujitia chini ya haki ya Mungu. 4Kwa maana Kristo ni ukomo wa sheria ili kuwe na haki kwa kila mtu aaminiye.
Wokovu Ni Kwa Ajili Ya Wote
5Mose anaandika kuhusu haki ile itokanayo na sheria, kwamba, “Mtu atendaye matendo hayo ataishi kwa hayo.” 610:6 Rum 9:30; Kut 30:12Lakini ile haki itokanayo na imani husema hivi: “Usiseme moyoni mwako, ‘Ni nani atakayepanda mbinguni?’ ” (yaani ili kumleta Kristo chini) 710:7 Kum 30:13; Mdo 2:24“au ‘Ni nani atashuka kwenda kuzimu?’ ” (yaani ili kumleta Kristo kutoka kwa wafu.) 810:8 Kum 30:14Lakini andiko lasemaje? “Lile neno liko karibu nawe, liko kinywani mwako na moyoni mwako,” yaani, lile neno la imani tunalolihubiri. 910:9 Mt 10:32; Lk 12:8; Mdo 2:24Kwa sababu kama ukikiri kwa kinywa chako kwamba “Yesu ni Bwana,” na kuamini moyoni mwako kwamba Mungu alimfufua kutoka kwa wafu, utaokoka. 10Kwa maana kwa moyo mtu huamini na hivyo kuhesabiwa haki, tena kwa kinywa mtu hukiri na hivyo kupata wokovu. 1110:11 Isa 28:16; Mt 28:18; Mdo 10:36Kama yasemavyo Maandiko, “Yeyote amwaminiye hataaibika kamwe.” 12Kwa maana hakuna tofauti kati ya Myahudi na Myunani, yeye ni Bwana wa wote, mwenye utajiri kwa wote wamwitao. 1310:13 Mdo 2:21; Yoe 2:32Kwa maana, “Kila mtu atakayeliitia Jina la Bwana, ataokolewa.”
1410:14 Tit 1:3Lakini watamwitaje yeye ambaye hawajamwamini? Nao watawezaje kumwamini yeye ambaye hawajamsikia? Tena watamsikiaje bila mtu kuwahubiria? 1510:15 Isa 52:7Nao watahubirije wasipopelekwa? Kama ilivyoandikwa, “Tazama jinsi ilivyo mizuri miguu yao wale wanaohubiri habari njema!”
1610:16 Isa 53:1Lakini si wote waliotii Habari Njema. Kwa maana Isaya asema, “Bwana, ni nani aliyeamini ujumbe wetu?” 1710:17 Gal 3:2, 5; Kol 3:16Basi, imani chanzo chake ni kusikia, na kusikia huja kwa neno la Kristo. 1810:18 Za 19:4; Mt 24:14Lakini nauliza: Je, wao hawakusikia? Naam, wamesikia, kwa maana:
“Sauti yao imeenea duniani pote,
nayo maneno yao yameenea
hadi miisho ya ulimwengu.”
1910:19 Rum 11:11, 14; Kut 32:21Nami nauliza tena: Je, Waisraeli hawakuelewa? Kwanza, Mose asema,
“Nitawafanya mwe na wivu
kwa watu wale ambao si taifa.
Nitawakasirisha kwa taifa
lile lisilo na ufahamu.”
2010:20 Isa 65:1; Rum 9:20Naye Isaya kwa ujasiri mwingi anasema,
“Nimeonekana na watu wale ambao hawakunitafuta.
Nilijifunua kwa watu
wale ambao hawakunitafuta.”
2110:21 Isa 65:2; Yer 35:17Lakini kuhusu Israeli anasema,
“Mchana kutwa nimewanyooshea
watu wakaidi na wasiotii mikono yangu.”
