Romans 9
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me testimony in the Holy Spirit,
I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,
4 Who are Israelites; to whom [pertain] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;
the 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.
5 Whose [are] the fathers, and from whom according to the flesh, Christ [came], who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen. (aiōn g165)
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken no effect. For they [are] not all Israel, who are [descendants] from Israel?
It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
8 That is, They who are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
So 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.
9 For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac,
Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were 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 God, according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth)
Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
12 It was said to her, The elder shall serve the younger.
not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? By no means.
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!
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 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 showeth mercy.
So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
17 For the scripture saith to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
For 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.”
18 Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.
Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
19 Thou wilt say then to me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who hath resisted his will?
One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”
20 No, 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?
But 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?”
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor?
Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
22 [What] if God, willing to show [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared for glory,
What 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—
24 Even us whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.
including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them My people, who were not my people; and her Beloved, who was not beloved.
As 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,”
26 And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said to them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called, The children of the living God.
and, “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.’”
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 Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
28 For he will finish the work, and cut [it] short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth thoroughly and decisively.”
29 And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like Gomorrah.
It 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.”
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles who followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith:
What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
31 But Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
32 Why? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;
Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone, and rock of offense: and whoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
as 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.”
