1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah —how he appealed 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" "?4 And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." [^2]5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,8 as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day." [^3]9 And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them.10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever." [^4]11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,26 and in this way "all Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.27 And this is "my covenant with them when I take away their sins." [^7]28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now "receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and "knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" [^10]35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?" [^11]36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

1 فاقول ألعل الله رفض شعبه. حاشا. لاني انا ايضا اسرائيلي من نسل ابراهيم من سبط بنيامين.2 لم يرفض الله شعبه الذي سبق فعرفه. ام لستم تعلمون ماذا يقول الكتاب في ايليا كيف يتوسل الى الله ضد اسرائيل قائلا3 يا رب قتلوا انبياءك وهدموا مذابحك وبقيت انا وحدي وهم يطلبون نفسي.4 لكن ماذا يقول له الوحي. ابقيت لنفسي سبعة آلاف رجل لم يحنوا ركبة لبعل.5 فكذلك في الزمان الحاضر ايضا قد حصلت بقية حسب اختيار النعمة.6 فان كان بالنعمة فليس بعد بالاعمال. وإلا فليست النعمة بعد نعمة. وان كان بالاعمال فليس بعد نعمة. وإلا فالعمل لا يكون بعد عملا.7 فماذا. ما يطلبه اسرائيل ذلك لم ينله. ولكن المختارون نالوه. واما الباقون فتقسوا8 كما هو مكتوب اعطاهم الله روح سبات وعيونا حتى لا يبصروا وآذانا حتى لا يسمعوا الى هذا اليوم.9 وداود يقول لتصر مائدتهم فخا وقنصا وعثرة ومجازاة لهم.10 لتظلم اعينهم كي لا يبصروا ولتحن ظهورهم في كل حين11 فاقول ألعلهم عثروا لكي يسقطوا. حاشا. بل بزلتهم صار الخلاص للامم لاغارتهم.12 فان كانت زلتهم غنى للعالم ونقصانهم غنى للامم فكم بالحري ملؤهم.13 فاني اقول لكم ايها الامم. بما اني انا رسول للامم امجد خدمتي14 لعلي أغير انسبائي واخلّص اناسا منهم.15 لانه ان كان رفضهم هو مصالحة العالم فماذا يكون اقتبالهم الا حياة من الاموات.16 وان كانت الباكورة مقدسة فكذلك العجين. وان كان الاصل مقدسا فكذلك الاغصان.17 فان كان قد قطع بعض الاغصان وانت زيتونة برية طعّمت فيها فصرت شريكا في اصل الزيتونة ودسمها18 فلا تفتخر على الاغصان. وان افتخرت فانت لست تحمل الاصل بل الاصل اياك يحمل.19 فستقول قطعت الاغصان لأطعم انا.20 حسنا. من اجل عدم الايمان قطعت وانت بالايمان ثبتّ. لا تستكبر بل خف.21 لانه ان كان الله لم يشفق على الاغصان الطبيعية فلعله لا يشفق عليك ايضا.22 فهوذا لطف الله وصرامته. اما الصرامة فعلى الذين سقطوا. واما اللطف فلك ان ثبت في اللطف وإلا فانت ايضا ستقطع.23 وهم ان لم يثبتوا في عدم الايمان سيطعمون. لان الله قادر ان يطعمهم ايضا.24 لانه ان كنت انت قد قطعت من الزيتونة البرية حسب الطبيعة وطعمت بخلاف الطبيعة في زيتونة جيدة فكم بالحري يطعّم هؤلاء الذين هم حسب الطبيعة في زيتونتهم الخاصة25 فاني لست اريد ايها الاخوة ان تجهلوا هذا السر. لئلا تكونوا عند انفسكم حكماء. ان القساوة قد حصلت جزئيا لاسرائيل الى ان يدخل ملؤ الامم26 وهكذا سيخلص جميع اسرائيل. كما هو مكتوب سيخرج من صهيون المنقذ ويرد الفجور عن يعقوب.27 وهذا هو العهد من قبلي لهم متى نزعت خطاياهم.28 من جهة الانجيل هم اعداء من اجلكم. واما من جهة الاختيار فهم احباء من اجل الآباء.29 لان هبات الله ودعوته هي بلا ندامة.30 فانه كما كنتم انتم مرة لا تطيعون الله ولكن الآن رحمتم بعصيان هؤلاء31 هكذا هؤلاء ايضا الآن لم يطيعوا لكي يرحموا هم ايضا برحمتكم.32 لان الله اغلق على الجميع معا في العصيان لكي يرحم الجميع33 يا لعمق غنى الله وحكمته وعلمه. ما ابعد احكامه عن الفحص وطرقه عن الاستقصاء.34 لان من عرف فكر الرب او من صار له مشيرا.35 او من سبق فاعطاه فيكافأ.36 لان منه وبه وله كل الاشياء. له المجد الى الابد. آمين