[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] whose are the fathers, and of
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 seed, are they all children. But, "In Isaac will
your seed be called." [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 a seed.
[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 Rebecca 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 will we say then? Is there unrighteousness
with God? Certainly not! [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 published abroad 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 no, man, who are you who replies 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 made 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 will they be called `sons 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 Hosts had left us a
seed, We would have become like Sodom, And would have been made like
Gomorrah." [30] What will 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
stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. And no one who believes in him
will be put to shame."