"He will comeand destroythesevine-growersand will givethe vineyardto others."Whenthey heardit, they said,"May it neverbe!"
"But theseenemiesof mine,who did not wantme to reignoverthem, bringthem hereand slaythem in my presence."
Pauland Barnabasspoke out boldlyand said,"It was necessarythat the wordof Godbe spokento you first;sinceyou repudiateit and judgeyourselvesunworthyof eternallife,behold,we are turningto the Gentiles.
They saidto Him, "He will bringthosewretchesto a wretchedend,and will rentout the vineyardto othervine-growerswhowill payhim the proceedsat the [proper] seasons."
"But the kingwas enraged,and he senthis armiesand destroyedthosemurderersand settheir cityon fire.
"Whenthe harvesttimeapproached,he senthis slavesto the vine-growersto receivehis produce.
"Whatwill the ownerof the vineyarddo?He will comeand destroythe vine-growers,and will givethe vineyardto others.
"Sothey threwhim out of the vineyardand killedhim. What,then,will the ownerof the vineyarddoto them?
May it neverbe! Rather,let Godbe foundtrue,thougheveryman[be found] a liar,as it is written,"THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIEDIN YOUR WORDS,AND PREVAILWHENYOU ARE JUDGED."
May it neverbe! For otherwise,howwill Godjudgethe world?
Do we thennullifythe Lawthroughfaith?May it neverbe! On the contrary,we establishthe Law.
May it neverbe! Howshall we whodiedto sinstilllivein it?
Whatthen?Shall we sinbecausewe are not underlawbut undergrace?May it neverbe!
Whatshall we saythen?Is the Lawsin?May it neverbe! On the contrary,I would not have come to knowsinexceptthroughthe Law;for I would not have known aboutcovetingifthe Lawhad not said,"YOU SHALL NOT COVET."
Thereforedid that whichis goodbecome[a cause] [of] deathfor me? May it neverbe! Ratherit was sin,in orderthat it might be shownto be sinby effectingmy deaththroughthat which is good,sothat throughthe commandmentsinwould becomeutterlysinful.
Whatshall we saythen?There is noinjusticewith God,is there? May it neverbe!
I saythen,Godhas not rejectedHis people,has He? May it neverbe! For I tooaman Israelite,a descendantof Abraham,of the tribeof Benjamin.
I saythen,they did not stumblesoas to fall,did they? May it neverbe! But by their transgressionsalvation[has come] to the Gentiles,to make them jealous.
Do you not knowthat your bodiesare membersof Christ?Shall I thentake awaythe membersof Christand makethem membersof a prostitute?May it neverbe!
"But if,while seekingto be justifiedin Christ,we ourselveshave alsobeen foundsinners,is Christthena ministerof sin?May it neverbe!
Is the Lawthencontraryto the promisesof God?May it neverbe! For ifa lawhad been givenwhich was ableto impart life,then righteousnesswould indeedhave beenbasedon law.
But may it neverbe that I would boast,exceptin the crossof our LordJesusChrist,throughwhichthe worldhas been crucifiedto me, and I to the world.
