Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let each one of us please his neighbour for that which is good, to be building him up. 3For even al-Masih didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you have fallen on me.“[1] 4For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of Al-Kitab we might have hope. 5Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to al-Masih ‘Isa, 6that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord ‘Isa al-Masih.
7Therefore receive one another, even as al-Masih also received you, to the glory of Allah. 8Now I say that al-Masih has been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of Allah, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9and that the nations might glorify Allah for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore will I give thanks to you among the nations,
And will sing praises to your name.“[2]
10Again he says,
“Rejoice, you nations, with his people.“[3]
11Again,
“Praise Allah, all you nations!
Praise him, all you peoples!“[4]
12Again, Shaya says,
“The Root of Jesse,
Who will arise to rule over the peoples,
On him will the nations hope.“[5]
13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. 14I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers[6], that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others. 15But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by Allah, 16that I should be a servant of al-Masih ‘Isa to the nations, ministering as a priest the Injil of Allah, that the offering up of the nations might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17I have therefore my boasting in al-Masih ‘Isa in things pertaining to Allah. 18For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which al-Masih worked through me, for the obedience of the nations, by word and deed, 19in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of Allah’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Injil of al-Masih; 20yes, making it my aim to preach the Injil, not where al-Masih was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation. 21But, as it is written,
“They will see, to whom no news of him came.
They who haven’t heard will understand.“[7]
22Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you, 23but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you, 24whenever I journey to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the nations have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things. 28When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Injil of al-Masih.
30Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord ‘Isa al-Masih, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to Allah for me, 31that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints; 32that I may come to you in joy through the will of Allah, and together with you, find rest. 33Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
[1] 15:3 Quoting the Zabur 69:9.
[2] 15:9 Quoting the Taurat (2 Samuel 22:50) and the Zabur 18:50.
[3] 15:10 Quoting the Taurat, Deuteronomy 32:43.
[4] 15:11 Quoting the Zabur 117:1.
[5] 15:12 Quoting the prophet Shaya 11:10 in the Taurat.
[6] 15:14 The word for “brothers“ here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters“ or “siblings.“
[7] 15:21 Quoting the Taurat, Shaya 52:15.