I SPEAK the truth in Christ, I lie not, (my conscience also bearing
witness to me in the Holy Ghost,) (2)that great is my sorrow and
unceasing the anguish in my heart. (3)For could I myself wish that an
anathema should be from Christ upon my brethren, my kinsmen according
to the flesh? (4)who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the
glory, and the covenants, and the gift of the law, and the sacred
service, and the promises; (5)of whom are the fathers, and from whom as
respecting the flesh Christ sprung, who is over all, the blessed God
for evermore. Amen.
(6)Now it is not supposable that the word of God hath failed. For these
are not all Israel, who are of Israel: (7)nor, because they are the
seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be
called. (8)That is, not the children of the flesh, these are the
children of God: but the children of the promise are accounted for the
seed. (9)For the word of promise is this, At that time will I come, and
Sarah shall have a son. (10)And not only so; but when Rebecca also had
conception by one, even Isaac our father; (11)(though the children were
not yet born, nor had done any thing good or evil, that according to
the election of God the purpose might abide, not from works, but from
him who called;) (12)it was said unto her, "That the elder shall be
servant to the younger[58]." (13)As it is written, "Jacob have I loved,
but Esau have I hated[59]." (14)What shall we say therefore? Is there
unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15)For he saith to Moses[60], "I
will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion." (16)Well then, it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God who sheweth mercy.
(17)For the scripture saith[61] to Pharaoh, "That for this very end
have I raised thee up, that I might display in thee my power, and that
my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." (18)Well then, he hath
mercy on whom he will, but whom he will he hardeneth. (19)Wilt thou
then say to me, Why yet doth he blame us? Who hath resisted his will?
(20)Nay but, O man, who art thou that disputest against God? Shall the
thing fashioned say to him that fashioned it, Why hast thou made me
thus? (21)Hath not the potter power over the clay, from the same mass
to make one vessel for an honourable use, and another for a
dishonourable? (22)But what if God, willing to display his wrath, and
to make known what is possible with him, hath borne with much
long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for perdition: (23)and that
he might make known the riches of his glory upon the vessels of mercy
which he had before prepared for glory: (24)even us, whom he hath
called, not only out of the Jews, but out of the Gentiles? (25)As also
he saith in Hosea[62], "I will call her which was not my people, my
people; and her which was not beloved, beloved. (26)And it shall be in
the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; there
shall they be called the sons of the living God." (27)But Isaiah[63]
crieth concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel be
as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: (28)for he will
finish the account, and cut it short in righteousness: because a
concise account will the Lord make on the earth." (29)Even as Isaiah
had said before[64], "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left unto us a
seed, we should have become as Sodom, and been made like unto
Gomorrha."
(30)What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who pursued not after
righteousness, have attained unto righteousness, even the righteousness
which is by faith. (31)But Israel, pursuing after the law of
righteousness, hath not come up to the law of righteousness. (32)And
why? Because they sought it not by faith, but as by the works of the
law. For they stumbled against that stone of stumbling; (33)as it is
written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of
offence: and every one that believeth in him shall not be
confounded[65]."