16 Now if the firstfruits are holy,n so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 Now if some of the branches were broken off,o and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among themp and have come to share in the rich rootE of the cultivated olive tree, 18 do not boast that you are better than those branches. But if you do boast—you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you.q 19 Then you will say,r “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 True enough; they were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith.s Do not be arrogant, but beware,F,t 21 because if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.