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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Romans 11 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/romans/11.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/romans/11-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Romans 11</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../romans/10.htm" title="Romans 10">◄</a> Romans 11 <a href="../romans/12.htm" title="Romans 12">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/romans/11.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">God’s Mercy on Israel</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>“LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a></p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a> have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>As the Scriptures say,</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1">“God has put them into a deep sleep.</p><p class="line1">To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,</p><p class="line2">and closed their ears so they do not hear.”<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">d</span></a></p><p class="b"/><p class="m"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Likewise, David said,</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1">“Let their bountiful table become a snare,</p><p class="line2">a trap that makes them think all is well.</p><p class="line1">Let their blessings cause them to stumble,</p><p class="line2">and let them get what they deserve.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,</p><p class="line2">and let their backs be bent forever.”<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">e</span></a></p><p class="b"/><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">f</span></a> spare you either.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.</p><p class="hdg">God’s Mercy Is for Everyone</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">g</span></a> so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1">“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">h</span></a></p><p class="line2">and he will turn Israel<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">i</span></a> away from ungodliness.</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>And this is my covenant with them,</p><p class="line2">that I will take away their sins.”<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">j</span></a></p><p class="b"/><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">k</span></a> in God’s mercy. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>For who can know the LORD’s thoughts?</p><p class="line2">Who knows enough to give him advice?<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">l</span></a></p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>And who has given him so much</p><p class="line2">that he needs to pay it back?<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">m</span></a></p><p class="b"/><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/11-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:3 </span><span class="ft">1 Kgs 19:10, 14.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:4 </span><span class="ft">1 Kgs 19:18.</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:5 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">for a remnant.</span><br><span class="fn">d</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:8 </span><span class="ft">Isa 29:10; Deut 29:4.</span><br><span class="fn">e</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:9-10 </span><span class="ft">Ps 69:22-23 (Greek version).</span><br><span class="fn">f</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:21 </span><span class="ft">Some manuscripts read </span><span class="it">perhaps he won’t.</span><br><span class="fn">g</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:25 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">brothers.</span><br><span class="fn">h</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:26a </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">from Zion.</span><br><span class="fn">i</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:26b </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">Jacob.</span><br><span class="fn">j</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:26-27 </span><span class="ft">Isa 59:20-21; 27:9 (Greek version).</span><br><span class="fn">k</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:31 </span><span class="ft">Other manuscripts read </span><span class="it">will now share;</span><span class="ft"> still others read </span><span class="it">will someday share.</span><br><span class="fn">l</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:34 </span><span class="ft">Isa 40:13 (Greek version).</span><br><span class="fn">m</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">11:35 </span><span class="ft">See Job 41:11.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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