1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I bear witness for them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, not knowing the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes that the person who practices the righteousness that is from the law will live by it. 6 But the righteousness that is by faith speaks this way: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 “or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith that we preach: 9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes, leading to righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, leading to salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord is Lord of all and is rich toward all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How, then, can they call on the one in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

18 But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their sound has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by what is not a nation; by a nation without understanding I will make you angry.” 20 And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”