1. Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.
2. Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
3. For even the Messiah did not please Himself. On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.
4. For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
5. Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement allow you to live in harmony with one another, according to the command of Christ Jesus,
6. so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind and voice.
7. Therefore accept one another, just as the Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God.
8. For I say that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,
9. and so that Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles, and I will sing psalms to Your name.
10. Again it says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people!
11. And again: Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; all the peoples should praise Him!
12. And again, Isaiah says: The root of Jesse will appear, the One who rises to rule the Gentiles; the Gentiles will hope in Him.
13. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14. My brothers, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
15. Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God
16. to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of God’s good news. My purpose is that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17. Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God.
18. For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed,
19. by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news about the Messiah from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
20. My aim is to evangelize where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,
21. but, as it is written: Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.
22. That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you.
23. But now I no longer have any work to do in these provinces, and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you
24. whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope to see you when I pass through, and to be assisted by you for my journey there, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.
25. Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem to serve the saints,
26. for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
27. Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to Jews in material needs.
28. So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will visit you on the way to Spain.
29. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30. Now I appeal to you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf.
31. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that the gift I am bringing to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
32. and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
33. The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.