1Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for them, that they may be saved. 2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who does them will live by them." 6But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will go up into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down); 7or, 'Who will go down into the deep?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)" 8But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the message of faith that we proclaim: 9that if you acknowledge with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth acknowledgment is made, resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on him. 13For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."

14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without someone preaching? 15And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of peace, who bring good news of good things."

16But they did not all listen to the Good News. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

18But I ask, isn't it rather that they did not hear? On the contrary, "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, their words to the farthest parts of the world."

19But I ask, did not Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is not a people. I will make you angry with a foolish nation."

20Isaiah is very bold, and says, "I was found by those who did not seek me. I was revealed to those who did not ask for me."

21But as to Israel he says, "All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."