18Do not be uplifted in pride over the branches: because it is not you who are the support of the root, but it is by the root that you are supported.
19You will say, Branches were broken off so that I might be put in.
20Truly, because they had no faith they were broken off, and you have your place by reason of your faith. Do not be lifted up in pride, but have fear;
21For, if God did not have mercy on the natural branches, he will not have mercy on you.
22See then that God is good but his rules are fixed: to those who were put away he was hard, but to you he has been good, on the condition that you keep in his mercy; if not, you will be cut off as they were.
23And they, if they do not go on without faith, will be united to the tree again, because God is able to put them in again.
24For if you were cut out of a field olive-tree, and against the natural use were united to a good olive-tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be united again with the olive-tree which was theirs?
