Romans — Chapter 9

1I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.

2I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,

4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.

6It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

7Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

8So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.

9For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

10Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.

11Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,

12not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

13So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!

15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

18Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

19One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”

20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”

21Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

22What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?

23What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—

24including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?

25As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,”

26and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.

28For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth thoroughly and decisively.”

29It is just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.”

30What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.

32Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

33as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

9For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

10And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

27Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

29And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,

2that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.

3For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren`s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;

5whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6But [it is] not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:

7neither, because they are Abraham`s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.

9For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

10And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac--

11for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,

12it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.

14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.

16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.

17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.

18So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth.

19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?

20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?

21Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:

23and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,

24[even] us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?

25As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved.

26And it shall be, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God.

27And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:

28for the Lord will execute [his] word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.

29And, as Isaiah hath said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah.

30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:

31but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at [that] law.

32Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;

33even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.

1I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit—

2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

3For I could wish that I myself were accursed—cut off from Christ—for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,

4who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

5To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.

6It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel,

7nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants; rather “through Isaac will your descendants be counted.”

8This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.

9For this is what the promise declared: “About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son.”

10Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac—

11even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling)—

12it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,”

13just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!

15For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.

17For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”

18So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.

19You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?”

20But who indeed are you—a mere human being—to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

21Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?

22But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?

23And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory—

24even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

25As he also says in Hosea:“I will call those who were not my people, ‘My people,’ and I will call her who was unloved, ‘My beloved.’”

26“And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

27And Isaiah cries out on behalf of Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved,

28for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth completely and quickly.”

29Just as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have resembled Gomorrah.”

30What shall we say then?—that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith,

31but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.

32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

33just as it is written, “Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumbleand a rock that will make them fall, yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

1I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,

2that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.

3For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh,

4who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises;

5of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.

6But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.

7Neither, because they are Abraham’s offspring, are they all children. But, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac.”

8That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs.

9For this is a word of promise, “At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”

10Not only so, but Rebekah also conceived by one, by our father Isaac.

11For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,

12it was said to her, “The elder will serve the younger.”

13Even as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!

15For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.

17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

18So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.

19You will say then to me, “Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?”

20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”

21Or hasn’t the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?

22What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

23and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,

24us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?

25As he says also in Hosea, “I will call them ‘my people,’ which were not my people; and her ‘beloved,’ who was not beloved.”

26“It will be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ There they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

27Isaiah cries concerning Israel, “If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved;

28for He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.”

29As Isaiah has said before, “Unless the Lord of Armies had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been made like Gomorrah.”

30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;

31but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness.

32Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

33even as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed.”