Romans 9
1 I say the truth in the Messiah, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
I tell the truth in Christ. I do not lie, and my conscience bears witness with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
that for me there is great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from the Messiah for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
For I could wish that I myself would be cursed and set apart from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race according to the flesh.
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the worship, and the promises;
They are Israelites. They have adoption, the glory, the covenants, the gift of the law, the worship of God, and the promises.
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh the Messiah came, who is over all, YHWH blessed for ever. (aiōn g165)
Theirs are the ancestors from whom Christ has come with respect to the flesh—he who is God over all. May he be praised forever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
6 Not as though the word of YHWH hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
But it is not as though the promises of God have failed. For it is not everyone in Israel who truly belongs to Israel.
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Neither are all Abraham's descendants truly his children. But, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will be called.”
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of YHWH: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God. But the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and a son will be given to Sarah.”
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
Not only this, but after Rebekah also had conceived by one man, our father Isaac—
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of YHWH according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; )
for the children were not yet born and had not yet done anything good or bad, so that the purpose of God according to choice might stand, not because of actions, but because of him who calls—
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
It is just as had been written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with YHWH? By no means.
What then will we say? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be.
15 For 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.
For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of YHWH that sheweth mercy.
So then, it is not because of him who wills, nor because of him who runs, but because of God, who shows mercy.
17 For 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.
For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, so that I might demonstrate my power in you, and so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
So then, God has mercy on whom he wishes, and whom he wishes, he makes stubborn.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
You will say then to me, “Why does he still find fault? For who has ever withstood his will?”
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against YHWH? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
On the contrary, man, who are you who answers against God? Will what has been molded say to the one who molds it, “Why did you make me this way?”
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Does the potter not have the right over the clay to make from the same lump a container for special use, and another container for daily use?
22 What if YHWH, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
What if God, who is willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience containers of wrath prepared for destruction?
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
What if he did this in order that he might make known the riches of his glory upon containers of mercy, which he had previously prepared for glory?
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
What if he did this also for us, whom he also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
As he says also in Hosea: “I will call my people who were not my people, and her beloved who was not beloved.
26 And 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 Elohim.
Then it will be that where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'”
27 Isaiah also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel were as the sand of the sea, it will be a remnant that will be saved,
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will YHWH make upon the earth.
for the Lord will carry out his sentence on the earth, completely and without delay.”
29 And as Isaiah said before, Except YHWH Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
As Isaiah had said previously, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us descendants, we would be like Sodom, and we would have become like Gomorrah.”
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
What will we say then? That the Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, obtained righteousness, the righteousness by faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
But Israel, who did pursue a law of righteousness, did not arrive at it.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Why not? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but by works. They stumbled over the stone of stumbling,
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
as it has been written, “Look, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. He who believes in it will not be ashamed.”
