1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,*1:1 "Christ" means "Anointed One". called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, 2 which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring*1:3 or, seed of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations for his name’s sake; 6 among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ; 7 to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established; 12 that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13 Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (and was hindered so far), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. 17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith."✝1:17 Habakkuk 2:4

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse. 21 Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; 25 who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. 28 Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, 30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

1 Pauluselt, Kristuse Jeesuse sulaselt, kes on kutsutud apostliks ja valitud levitama Jumala evangeeliumi, 2 mida Jumal on oma prohvetite kaudu Pühakirjas ette tõotanud, 3 sõnumit tema Pojast – kes maises elus pärines Taaveti soost 4 ja on pühaduse Vaimu väes kinnitatud Jumala Pojaks pärast surnuist ülestõusmist – Jeesusest Kristusest, meie Issandast. 5 Tema läbi me oleme saanud armu ja apostliameti, et levitada usukuulekust tema nime auks mittejuutide keskel, 6 kelle hulgas teiegi olete kutsutud kuuluma Jeesusele Kristusele.

7 Kõigile Jumala armastatuile Roomas, teile, keda tema on kutsunud pühaks rahvaks:

Armu ja rahu teile meie Isalt Jumalalt ja Issandalt Jeesuselt Kristuselt!

8 Kõigepealt ma tänan oma Jumalat Jeesuse Kristuse kaudu teie kõigi eest, sest teie usust kõneldakse kogu maailmas. 9 Sest Jumal, keda ma oma vaimus teenin, levitades evangeeliumi tema Pojast, võib tunnistada, kuidas ma teid alatasa meenutan 10 oma palveis igal ajal ja anun, et mul Jumala tahtel ehk lõpuks ometi läheks korda teid külastada.

11 Ma ju igatsen teid näha, et võiksin anda teile vaimulikult midagi, mis teeb teid tugevaks; 12 see tähendab, et saaksime vastastikku julgustust üksteiselt – teie minu ja mina teie usu läbi. 13 Ärgu olgu teil teadmata, vennad ja õed, et ma olen palju kordi kavatsenud teid külastada, et mul võiks olla vilja ka teie keskel, nii nagu teiste mittejuutide seas, aga siiani on mind ikka takistatud. 14 Ma olen ju võlglane nii kreeklaste kui võõramaalaste, nii tarkade kui rumalate ees; 15 seepärast olen täis tahtmist kuulutada evangeeliumi ka teie juures Roomas.

16 Ma ei häbene evangeeliumi, sest see on Jumala vägi päästeks igaühele, kes usub – esmalt juudile, siis ka mittejuudile. 17 Sest evangeeliumis avaldub see, kuidas Jumal inimesi õigeks teeb – algusest lõpuni usu alusel, nõnda nagu on kirjutatud:

„Õige jääb usust elama!"

18 Kuid Jumala viha avaldub taevast inimeste kogu kurjuse ja ülekohtu vastu, mida nad teevad, lämmatades tõde ülekohtuga. 19 Sest see, mida on võimalik teada Jumalast, on nende keskel avalik – Jumal on selle neile avaldanud. 20 Tema nähtamatu olemus, tema muutumatu vägi ja jumalikkus on ju maailma loomisest peale selgesti näha, arusaadavad tema tööde põhjal. Nõnda ei ole neil mingit vabandust, 21 sest tundes Jumalat, ei ole nad teda ülistanud ja tänanud kui Jumalat, vaid on andunud tühistele targutustele ja nende mõistmatu süda on mattunud pimedusse. 22 Väites end olevat targad, on nad muutunud rumalaks 23 ning kadumatu Jumala kirkuse vahetanud kaduva inimese, lindude, neljajalgsete ja roomajate kujutise vastu.

24 Seepärast on Jumal nad andnud nende südame himudes rüveduse kütkesse, isekeskis oma keha häbistama. 25 Nad on Jumala tõe vahetanud vale vastu ning ülistanud ja teeninud loodut Looja asemel, kes on kiidetud igavesti! Aamen.

26 Seepärast on Jumal andnud nad häbiväärsete himude meelevalda: nende naised on asendanud loomuliku vahekorra loomuvastasega. 27 Samamoodi on mehed loobunud loomulikust vahekorrast naisega ning oma himus süttinud üksteisest; käitunud sündmatult mees mehega ja iseenestes saanud kätte kohase karistuse oma eksimuse eest.

28 Veel enam, kuna nad ei pidanud väärtuslikuks Jumala tundmist, andis Jumal nad kõlvatu mõtteviisi meelevalda tegema seda, mis on väär. 29 Nad on täis kõikvõimalikku ebaõiglust, kurjust, ahnust ja halba; täis kadedust, mõrvu, riidu, kavalust ja pahatahtlikkust. Nad on keelepeksjad, 30 laimajad, Jumala vihkajad, vägivaldsed, ülbed, hooplejad, leidlikud kurjale, vastuhakkajad vanemaile, 31 mõistmatud, sõnamurdjad, kalgi südamega, halastamatud. 32 Nad küll teavad hästi Jumala otsust, et need, kes selliseid asju teevad, on surma väärt, kuid ei tee mitte ainult sedasama, vaid kiidavad heaks ka need, kes nii teevad.