1 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. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh 4 who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.

6 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 offspring, are they all children. But, "your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac." 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as heirs. 9 For this is a word of promise: "At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son." 10 Not only so, but Rebekah also conceived by one, by our father Isaac. 11 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 to her, "The elder will serve the younger." 13 Even as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be! 15 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 who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy. 17 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 has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.

19 You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" 21 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 show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory— 24 us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says also in Hosea,

"I will call them ‘my people,’ which were not my people;

and her ‘beloved,’ who was not beloved."

26 "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 Isaiah cries concerning Israel,

"If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea,

it is the remnant who will be saved;

28 for He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,

because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth."

29 As Isaiah has said before,

"Unless the Lord of Armies had left us a seed,

we would have become like Sodom,

and would have been made like Gomorrah."

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who didn’t follow after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith; 31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn’t arrive at the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they didn’t seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 even as it is written,

"Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense;

and no one who believes in him will be disappointed."

1 I say the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

2 that I have great sorrow and continual pain in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren, those who are my kinsmen according to the flesh,

4 who are Israelites, to whom [pertains] the adoption [as sons] 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 is the Christ, who is God over all things, blessed for all the ages. Amen.

6 Not as though the word of God has been deficient. For not all the descendants of Israel are Israelites;

7 neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are all sons, but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, Those who [are] sons of the flesh, these [are] not the sons of God; but those who [are] sons of the promise [are] counted in the generation.

9 For the word of the promise [is] this, At this time I will 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 calls),

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] injustice in God? No, in no wise.

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 wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that has mercy.

17 For the scripture saith of 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.

18 Therefore he has mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and he hardens whom he will.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why does he become angry? For who shall resist his will?

20 Rather, O man, who art thou to reply against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Has 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, desiring to show [his] wrath and to make his power known, endured with much meekness the vessels of wrath, prepared for death,

23 and making known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory?

24 Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of 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.

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 sons of the living God.

27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel, Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant shall be saved;

28 when the consumption comes to an end, righteousness shall overflow, because a short sentence will the Lord execute upon the earth.

29 And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of the hosts had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom and been made like unto Gomorrha.

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, that is to say, the righteousness which is by faith,

31 and Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Why? Because [they followed it] not by faith but, as it were, by the works (of the law); therefore, they stumbled on the stumblingstone;

33 as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock [that will cause some] to fall, and whosoever believes in him shall not be ashamed.: