Israel Exhorted

^30 (A)What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even ^(B)the righteousness which is ^[a]by faith;

² For I testify about them that they have ^(A)a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. ³ For not knowing about ^(B)God’s righteousness and ^(C)seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For ^(D)Christ is the ^[a]end of the law for righteousness to ^(E)everyone who believes.

⁵ For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is ^[b]based on law ^(F)shall live ^[c]by that righteousness. ⁶ But ^(G)the righteousness ^[d]based on faith speaks as follows: “^(H)Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), ⁷ or ‘Who will descend into the ^(I)abyss?’ (that is, to ^(J)bring Christ up from the dead).” ⁸ But what does it say? “^(K)The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, ^9 [e]that ^(L)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and ^(M)believe in your heart that ^(N)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, ^[f]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, ^[g]resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “^(O)Whoever believes in Him will not be ^[h]disappointed.” ¹² For ^(P)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is ^(Q)Lord of ^(R)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; ¹³ for “^(S)Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him ^(T)whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without ^(U)a preacher? ¹⁵ How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “^(V)How beautiful are the feet of those who ^[i](W)bring good news of good things!”

¹⁶ However, they ^(X)did not all heed the ^[j]good news; for Isaiah says, “^(Y)Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from ^(Z)hearing, and hearing by ^(AA)the word ^[k]of Christ.

¹⁸ But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have;

¹⁹ But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says,

²⁰ And Isaiah is very bold and says,

²¹ But as for Israel He says, “^(AF)All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

²⁰ And Isaiah is very bold and says,

⁷ What then? What ^(A)Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but ^[a]those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were ^(B)hardened;