| Chapter 1 |
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Paul, bondman of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to God`s glad tidings, |
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(which he had before promised by his prophets in holy writings,) |
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concerning his Son (come of David`s seed according to flesh, |
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marked out Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by resurrection of the dead) Jesus Christ our Lord; |
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by whom we have received grace and apostleship in behalf of his name, for obedience of faith among all the nations, |
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among whom are *ye* also the called of Jesus Christ: |
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to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed in the whole world. |
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For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the glad tidings of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, |
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always beseeching at my prayers, if any way now at least I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you. |
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For I greatly desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to establish you; |
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that is, to have mutual comfort among you, each by the faith which is in the other, both yours and mine. |
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But I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, that I often proposed to come to you, (and have been hindered until the present time,) that I might have some fruit among you too, even as among the other nations also. |
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I am a debtor both to Greeks and barbarians, both to wise and unintelligent: |
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so, as far as depends on me, am I ready to announce the glad tidings to you also who are in Rome. |
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For I am not ashamed of the glad tidings; for it is God`s power to salvation, to every one that believes, both to Jew first and to Greek: |
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for righteousness of God is revealed therein, on the principle of faith, to faith: according as it is written, But the just shall live by faith. |
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For there is revealed wrath of God from heaven upon all impiety, and unrighteousness of men holding the truth in unrighteousness. |
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Because what is known of God is manifest among them, for God has manifested it to them, |
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-- for from the world`s creation the invisible things of him are perceived, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, both his eternal power and divinity, -- so as to render them inexcusable. |
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Because, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but fell into folly in their thoughts, and their heart without understanding was darkened: |
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professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, |
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and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and quadrupeds and reptiles. |
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Wherefore God gave them up also in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies between themselves: |
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who changed the truth of God into falsehood, and honoured and served the creature more than him who had created it, who is blessed for ever. Amen. |
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For this reason God gave them up to vile lusts; for both their females changed the natural use into that contrary to nature; |
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and in like manner the males also, leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their lust towards one another; males with males working shame, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was fit. |
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And according as they did not think good to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind to practise unseemly things; |
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being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers, |
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back-biters, hateful to God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, |
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void of understanding, faithless, without natural affection, unmerciful; |
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who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only practise them, but have fellow delight in those who do them. |