Romans 9

1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen 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 service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 That 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. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And 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;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 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. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth 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. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted 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 hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to 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, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of 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. 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 God. 27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall 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. 29 And 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. 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. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 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; 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.

神拣选以色列人

1 我在基督里说的是实话，并没有撒谎，因为我的良心在圣灵里一同为我作证；2 我大大忧愁，心里常常伤痛。3 为我的同胞，就是我骨肉之亲，就算自己受咒诅，与基督隔绝，我也甘心。4 他们是以色列人：嗣子的名分、荣耀、众约、律法、敬拜的礼仪和各样的应许，都是他们的。5 蒙拣选的列祖也是他们的祖宗；按肉身来说，基督也是出自他们这一族。其实，他是在万有之上，永远受称颂的　神。阿们。

6 当然，这不是说　神的话落了空，因为出自以色列的，不都是以色列人；7 也不因为他们是亚伯拉罕的后裔，就都成为他的儿女，只有"以撒生的，才可以称为你的后裔"，8 这就是说，肉身生的儿女并不是　神的儿女，只有凭着应许生的儿女才算是后裔。9 因为所应许的话是这样："明年这个时候我要来，撒拉必定生一个儿子。"10 不但如此，利百加也是这样：既然从一个人，就是从我们的祖宗以撒怀了孕，11 双生子还没有生下来，善恶也没有行出来*为要坚定　神拣选人的旨意，不是由于行为，而是由于那呼召者，12 　神就对她说："将来大的要服事小的。"13 正如经上所记的：

"我爱雅各，

却恶以扫。"

14 既是这样，我们可以说甚么呢？　神不公平吗？绝对不会！15 因为他对摩西说：

"我要怜悯谁，就怜悯谁；

我要恩待谁，就恩待谁。"

16 这样看来，既不是出于人意，也不是由于人为*"人为"原文作"奔走"或"奔跑"，只在于那怜悯人的　神。17 经上有话对法老说："我把你兴起来，是要借着你显出我的大能，并且使我的名传遍全地。"18 这样看来，他愿意怜悯谁就怜悯谁，愿意谁刚硬就使谁刚硬。

神显出忿怒又施行怜悯

19 这样，你会对我说："那么他为甚么责怪人呢？有谁抗拒他的旨意呢？"20 你这个人哪，你是谁，竟敢跟　神顶嘴呢？被造的怎么可以对造他的说："你为甚么把我做成这个样子呢？"21 陶匠难道没有权用同一团的泥，又做贵重的、又做卑贱的器皿吗？22 如果　神有意要显明他的忿怒，彰显他的大能，而多多容忍那可怒、预备遭毁灭的器皿，23 为了要使他丰盛的荣耀，彰显在那蒙恩、早已预备要得荣耀的器皿上，这又有甚么不可呢？24 这器皿就是我们这些不但从犹太人中，也从外族人中蒙召的人。25 就如　神在何西阿书上说的：

"我要称那不是我子民的为我的子民，

那不蒙爱的为蒙爱的；

26 从前在甚么地方对他们说：

你们不是我的子民，

将来就在那里称他们为永活　神的儿子。"

27 以赛亚指着以色列人大声说："以色列子孙的数目虽然多如海沙，得救的不过是剩下的余数；28 因为主必在地上迅速而彻底地成就他的话。"29 又如以赛亚早已说过的：

"如果不是万军之主给我们存留后裔，

我们早就像所多玛

和蛾摩拉一样了。"

以色列人因为不信而绊倒

30 既是这样，我们还有甚么可说的呢？那不追求义的外族人却得了义，就是因信而得的义。31 但以色列人追求律法的义*"律法的义"原文作"义的律法"，却达不到律法的要求。32 这是甚么缘故呢？因为他们不凭信心，只靠行为。他们绊倒在那绊脚石上，33 正如经上所记：

"看哪，我在锡安放了一块绊脚石，

是绊倒人的盘石；

信靠他的人，

必不致失望。"