Romans 15 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Please Others and Not Yourself

15 If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. 2 We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. 3 (A) Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” 4 (B) And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5 God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6 Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Good News Is for Jews and Gentiles

7 Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you. 8 I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came, 9 (C) so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them. It is just as the Scriptures say,

“I will tell the nations
about you,
and I will sing praises
to your name.”

10 (D) The Scriptures also say to the Gentiles, “Come and celebrate with God's people.”

11 (E) Again the Scriptures say,

“Praise the Lord,
all you Gentiles.
All you nations, come
and worship him.”

12 (F) Isaiah says,

“Someone from David's family
will come to power.
He will rule the nations,
and they will put their hope
in him.”

13 I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.

Paul's Work as a Missionary

14 My friends, I am sure that you are very good and that you have all the knowledge you need to teach each other. 15 But I have spoken to you plainly and have tried to remind you of some things. God treated me with undeserved grace! 16 He chose me to be a servant of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles and to do the work of a priest in the service of his good news. God did this so that the Holy Spirit could make the Gentiles into a holy offering, pleasing to him.

17 Because of Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my service for God. 18 In fact, all I will talk about is how Christ let me speak and work, so that the Gentiles would obey him. 19 Indeed, I will tell how Christ worked miracles and wonders by the power of the Holy Spirit. I have preached the good news about him all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum. 20 But I have always tried to preach where people have never heard about Christ. I am like a builder who doesn't build on someone else's foundation. 21 (G) It is just as the Scriptures say,

“All who haven't been told
about him
will see him,
and those who haven't heard
about him
will understand.”

Paul's Plan To Visit Rome

22 (H) My work has always kept me from coming to see you. 23 Now there is nothing left for me to do in this part of the world, and for years I have wanted to visit you. 24 So I plan to stop off on my way to Spain. Then after a short, but refreshing, visit with you, I hope you will quickly send me on.

25-26 (I) I am now on my way to Jerusalem to deliver the money that the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia collected for God's needy people. 27 (J) This is something they really wanted to do. But sharing their money with the Jews was also like paying back a debt, because the Jews had already shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles. 28 After I have safely delivered this money, I will visit you and then go on to Spain. 29 And when I do arrive in Rome, I know it will be with the full blessings of Christ.

30 My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me. 31 Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing. 32 Ask God to let me come to you and have a pleasant and refreshing visit. 33 I pray that God, who gives peace, will be with all of you. Amen.

Cross references

  1. 15.3 : Ps 69.9.
  2. 15.4 : 1 Macc 12.9; 2 Macc 15.9.
  3. 15.9 : 2 S 22.50; Ps 18.49.
  4. 15.10 : Dt 32.43.
  5. 15.11 : Ps 117.1.
  6. 15.12 : Is 11.10 (LXX).
  7. 15.21 : Is 52.15 (LXX).
  8. 15.22 : Ro 1.13.
  9. 15.25,26 : 1 Co 16.1-4.
  10. 15.27 : 1 Co 9.11.

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15 And we ought -- we who are strong -- to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves; 2 for let each one of us please the neighbor for good, unto edification, 3 for even the Christ did not please himself, but, according as it hath been written, `The reproaches of those reproachin...
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Romans 15 - World English Bible (WEB)

15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up. 3 For even Christ didn’t please himself. But, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell o...
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Romans 15 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the powerless and not just please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, for building him up. 3 For even Messiah did not please Himself, but as it is written, “The insults of those who insulted You have fallen on Me.” ...
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Romans 15 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Please Others, Not Yourselves15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; 2 let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. 3 For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell...
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Romans 15 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

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Romans 15 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

15 We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let everyone please his neighbor for good toward edification. 3 For Christ would not please Himself, either. But as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you, fell on Me.” 4 For whatever t...
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Romans 15 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

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Romans 15 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Please Others, Not Yourselves15 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us must please our neighbour for the good purpose of building up the neighbour. 3 For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, ‘The insults of those ...
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Romans 15 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Please Others, Not Yourselves15 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.(A)2 Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.(B)3 For Christ did not please himself, but, as it is written, “The insults of those w...
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Romans 15 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

The infirmity and frailness of the weak should be borne with all love and kindness, after the example of Christ. 15 We who are strong ought to bear the frailness of those who are weak, and not to stand in our own understanding. 2 Let everyone please his neighbour for his wellbeing and encouragement...
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Romans 15 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Living to Please Others15 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The i...
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Romans 15 - New Life Version (NLV)

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Romans 15 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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