< Romans 9 >
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Ghost,
I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren’s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers' sake, my physical relatives according to the flesh,
4 who 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;
who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service, and the promises;
5 whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (aiōn )
of whom are the patriarchs, and from whom is the Christ, as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen. (aiōn )
6 But [it is] not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.
7 neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Neither, because they are Abraham's descendants, are they all children. But, "In Isaac will your descendants be called."
8 That 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.
That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.
9 For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
For this is what the promise said, "At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son."
10 And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac—
And not only that, but Rebekah also had conceived by one, our father Isaac.
11 for [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,
For 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,
12 it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
it was said to her, "The elder will serve the younger."
13 Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
Even as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
What should we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Absolutely not.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
For he said to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might shew in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.
For 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."
18 So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.
So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?
You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?"
20 Nay 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?
But who indeed are you, a human being, to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"
21 Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Or 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?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:
What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction,
23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,
and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,
24 [even] us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the non-Jews?
25 As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, which was not beloved.
As he says also in Hosea, "I will call them which were not my people 'my people,' and her who was not loved, 'loved.'"
26 And 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.
"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.'"
27 And 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:
And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be kept safe.
28 for the Lord will execute [his] word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.
For he will fulfill the word and decisively in righteousness; because the Lord will carry out the word decisively in the midst of the earth."
29 And, 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.
As Isaiah has said before, "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been made like Gomorrah."
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
What should we say then? That the non-Jews, who did not follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith;
31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at [that] law.
but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.
32 Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;
Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;
33 even 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.
even as it is written, "Look, I am laying in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock to trip over; and the one who believes in him will not be put to shame."