Romans 9
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ; I am not lying. My conscience offers testimony to me in the Holy Spirit,
我在基督內說實話，並不說謊，有我的良心在聖神內與我一同作證：
2 because the sadness within me is great, and there is a continuous sorrow in my heart.
我的憂愁極，大我心中不斷的痛苦；
3 For I was desiring that I myself might be anathemized from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh.
為救我的弟兄，我血統的同胞，就是被詛咒，與基督隔絕，我也甘心情願。
4 These are the Israelites, to whom belongs adoption as sons, and the glory and the testament, and the giving and following of the law, and the promises.
他們是以色列人：義子的名份、光榮、盟約、法律、禮儀以及恩許，都是他們的；
5 Theirs are the fathers, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all things, blessed God, for all eternity. Amen. (aiōn g165)
聖祖也是他們的，並且基督按血統說，也是從他們來的，祂是在萬有之上，世世代代應受讚美的天主! 阿們。 (aiōn g165)
6 But it is not that the Word of God has perished. For not all those who are Israelites are of Israel.
這並不是說天主的話落了空，因為不是凡從以色列生的，都是真以色列人；
7 And not all sons are the offspring of Abraham: “For your offspring will be invoked in Isaac.”
也不是凡是亞巴郎的後裔，就都是他的真子女，而是『由依撒格所生的，才稱為你的後裔，』
8 In other words, those who are the sons of God are not those who are sons of the flesh, but those who are sons of the Promise; these are considered to be the offspring.
即是說：不是血統上的子女，算是天主的子女，而是藉恩許所生的子女，才算為真後裔。
9 For the word of promise is this: “I will return at the proper time. And there shall be a son for Sarah.”
原來恩許是這樣說的：『到明年這時候我要來，撒辣必有一個兒子。』
10 And she was not alone. For Rebecca also, having conceived by Isaac our father, from one act,
並且關於黎貝加也有相似的事。她從我們的先祖依撒格一人懷了孕；
11 when the children had not yet been born, and had not yet done anything good or bad (such that the purpose of God might be based on their choice),
當時雙胎還沒有出生，也沒有行善或作惡；但為使天主預簡的計畫堅定不移，
12 and not because of deeds, but because of a calling, it was said to her: “The elder shall serve the younger.”
且為顥示這計畫並不憑人的行為，而只憑天主的召選，遂有話給她說：『年長的要服事年幼的。』
13 So also it was written: “I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.”
正如經上記載：『我愛了雅各伯而恨了厄撒烏。』
14 What should we say next? Is there unfairness with God? Let it not be so!
那麼，我們可說什麼呢？難道天主不公道嗎？絕對不是!
15 For to Moses he says: “I will pity whomever I pity. And I will offer mercy to whomever I will pity.”
因為祂對梅瑟說過：『我要恩待的，就恩待；我要憐憫的，就憐憫。』
16 Therefore, it is not based on those who choose, nor on those who excel, but on God who takes pity.
這樣看來，蒙召並不在乎人願意，也不在乎人努力，而是由於天主的仁慈，
17 For Scripture says to the Pharaoh: “I have raised you up for this purpose, so that I may reveal my power by you, and so that my name may be announced to all the earth.”
因為經上有話對法郎說：『我特興起了你，是為在你身上彰顯我的大能，並為使我的名傳遍全世界。』
18 Therefore, he takes pity on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
這樣看來，祂願意恩待誰，就恩待誰；祂願意使誰心硬，就使誰心硬。
19 And so, you would say to me: “Then why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”
或者，你要問我說：既是這樣，為什麼祂要責怪人呢？有誰能抗拒祂的意志呢？
20 O man, who are you to question God? How can the thing that has been formed say to the One who formed him: “Why have you made me this way?”
人呀! 你是誰，竟敢向天主抗辯？製造品豈能對製造者說：你為什麼這樣製造了我？
21 And does not the potter have the authority over the clay to make, from the same material, indeed, one vessel unto honor, yet truly another unto disgrace?
難道陶工不能隨意用一團泥，把這一個作成貴重的器皿，把那一個作成卑賤的器皿嗎？
22 What if God, wanting to reveal his wrath and to make his power known, endured, with much patience, vessels deserving wrath, fit to be destroyed,
如果天主願意顯示自己的義怒，並彰顯自己的威能，曾以寬宏大量，容忍了那些惹祂發怒而應毀滅的器皿；
23 so that he might reveal the wealth of his glory, within these vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory?
祂如此作，是為把祂那豐富的光榮，在那些祂早已準備好，為進入光榮而蒙憐憫的器冊上彰顯出來，又有什麼不可能呢？
24 And so it is with those of us whom he has also called, not only from among the Jews, but even from among the Gentiles,
這些器皿就是我們這些不但從猶太人中，而且也從外邦人中被天主所寵召的人。
25 just as he says in Hosea: “I will call those who were not my people, ‘my people,’ and she who was not beloved, ‘beloved,’ and she who had not obtained mercy, ‘one who has obtained mercy.’
這正如天主在歐瑟亞書中所說的：『我要叫「非我人民」為「我的人民」，又叫「不蒙愛憐者」為「蒙愛憐者」；
26 And this shall be: in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they shall be called the sons of the living God.”
人在那裡對他們說：你們不是我的人民，在同樣的地方，他們要被稱為永生天主的子女。』
27 And Isaiah cried out on behalf of Israel: “When the number of the sons of Israel is like the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.
論到以色列，依撒意亞卻呼喊說：『以色列子民的數目雖煞多如海沙，唯有殘存者要蒙受救恩，
28 For he shall complete his word, while abbreviating it out of equity. For the Lord shall accomplish a brief word upon the earth.”
因為上主在大地上，要徹底迅速完成祂的判決。』
29 And it is just as Isaiah predicted: “Unless the Lord of hosts had bequeathed offspring, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made similar to Gomorrah.”
依撒意亞又預言過：『若非萬軍的上主給我們留下苖裔，我們早已如同索多瑪，相似哈摩辣了。』
30 What should we say next? That the Gentiles who did not follow justice have attained justice, even the justice that is of faith.
那麼，我們可說什麼呢？外邦人沒有追求正義，卻獲得了正義，即由信仰而得的正義；
31 Yet truly, Israel, though following the law of justice, has not arrived at the law of justice.
以色列人追求使人成義的法律，卻沒有得到這種法律，
32 Why is this? Because they did not seek it from faith, but as if it were from works. For they stumbled over a stumbling block,
這是為什麼呢？是因為他們不憑信仰，只憑著行為追求。他們正碰在那塊絆腳石上，
33 just as it was written: “Behold, I am placing a stumbling block in Zion, and a rock of scandal. But whoever believes in him shall not be confounded.”
正如經上所載：『看，我在熙雍按放了一塊絆腳石，一塊使人絆跌的盤石；相信他的人，不致蒙羞。』
