¹Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.

¹Ndugu zangu, ninataka na kutazamia kwa moyo wangu wote hao wananchi wenzangu wakombolewe. Tena nawaombea kwa Mungu daima.

²For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

²Maana naweza kuthibitisha kwa niaba yao kwamba wanayo bidii ya kumtafuta Mungu; lakini bidii hiyo haikujengwa juu ya ujuzi wa kweli.

³For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

³Maana hawakufahamu jinsi Mungu anavyowafanya watu wawe waadilifu, na wamejaribu kuanzisha mtindo wao wenyewe, na hivyo hawakuikubali njia hiyo ya Mungu ya kuwafanya wawe waadilifu.

⁴For Christ is the fulfillment or, completion, or end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

⁴Maana kwa kuja kwake Kristo, Sheria imefikia kikomo chake, ili kila mtu anayeamini akubaliwe kuwa mwadilifu.

⁵For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.” Leviticus 18:5

⁵Kuhusu kukubaliwa kuwa mwadilifu kwa kuitii Sheria, Mose aliandika hivi: "Mtu yeyote anayetimiza matakwa ya Sheria ataishi."

⁶But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ Deuteronomy 30:12 (that is, to bring Christ down);

⁶Lakini, kuhusu kukubaliwa kuwa mwadilifu kwa njia ya imani, yasemwa hivi: "Usiseme moyoni mwako: Nani atapanda mpaka mbinguni? (yaani, kumleta Kristo chini);

⁷or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ Deuteronomy 30:13 (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)”

⁷wala usiseme: Nani atashuka mpaka Kuzimu (yaani, kumleta Kristo kutoka kwa wafu)."

⁸But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”; Deuteronomy 30:14 that is, the word of faith, which we preach:

⁸Maandiko Matakatifu yesema hivi, "Ujumbe huo wa Mungu uko karibu nawe, uko kinywani mwako na moyoni mwako" nao ndio ile imani tunayoihubiri.

⁹that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

⁹Kama ukikiri kwa kinywa chako kwamba Yesu ni Bwana na kuamini moyoni mwako kwamba Mungu alimfufua kutoka wafu, utaokoka.

¹⁰For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

¹⁰Maana tunaamini kwa moyo na kukubaliwa kuwa waadilifu; na tunakiri kwa midomo yetu na kuokolewa.

¹¹For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.” Isaiah 28:16

¹¹Maandiko Matakatifu yasema: "Kila amwaminiye hatakuwa na sababu ya kuaibika."

¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.

¹²Jambo hili ni kwa wote, kwani hakuna tofauti kati ya Wayahudi na wasio Wayahudi; Bwana wa wote ni mmoja, naye ni mkarimu sana kwao wote wamwombao.

¹³For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Joel 2:32

¹³Maana Maandiko Matakatifu yasema: "Kila mtu atakayeomba kwa jina la Bwana, ataokolewa."

¹⁴How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?

¹⁴Basi, watamwombaje yeye ambaye hawamwamini? Tena, watamwaminije kama hawajapata kusikia habari zake? Na watasikiaje habari zake kama hakuna mhubiri?

¹⁵And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” Isaiah 52:7

¹⁵Na watu watahubirije kama hawakutumwa? Kama yasemavyo Maandiko Matakatifu: "Ni jambo la kupendeza mno kuja kwa wale wanaohubiri Habari Njema!"

¹⁶But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Isaiah 53:1

¹⁶Lakini wote hawakuipokea hiyo Habari Njema. Maana Isaya alisema: "Bwana, ni nani aliyeamini ujumbe wetu?"

¹⁷So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

¹⁷Hivyo basi, imani inatokana na kuusikiliza ujumbe, na huo ujumbe unatokana na neno la Kristo.

¹⁸But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:4

¹⁸Lakini nauliza: je, hawakuusikia huo ujumbe? Naam, waliusikia; kama Maandiko Matakatifu yasemavyo: "Sauti yao imeenea duniani kote; maneno yao yamefika mpaka kingo za ulimwengu."

¹⁹But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry.” Deuteronomy 32:31

¹⁹Tena nauliza: je, yawezekana kwamba watu wa Israeli hawakufahamu? Mose mwenyewe ni kwa kwanza kujibu: "Nitawafanyeni mwaonee wivu watu ambao si taifa; nitawafanyeni muwe na hasira juu ya taifa la watu wapumbavu."

²⁰Isaiah is very bold, and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.” Isaiah 65:1

²⁰Tena Isaya anathubutu hata kusema: "Wale ambao hawakunitafuta wamenipata; nimejionyesha kwao wasiouliza habari zangu."

²¹But as to Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” Isaiah 65:2

²¹Lakini kuhusu Israeli anasema: "Mchana kutwa niliwanyoshea mikono yangu watu waasi na wasiotii."