I speak (the) tRuth - in Christ ; vvv I am not lying , as confirmed ... by my - conscience in (the) Holy Spirit.
- I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
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 ... ... ,
(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.
(Theirs are) the patriarchs , and from them ( proceeds ) - vvv (the) human (descent) - of Christ , who is God over all , vvv vvv forever worthy of praise ! Amen.
- (It is) not as though - - God’s - word has failed. For not all who (are) descended from Israel (are) Israel.
Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants (are) they all (his) children. On the contrary , “ Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
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.
For this (is) what (the) promise stated : “ At - the appointed time I will return , and - Sarah will have a son.”
Not only that , but - Rebecca’s (children) were conceived by one (man) , our - father Isaac.
Yet before (the twins) were born (or) had done anything good or bad , in order that - - God’s plan of election might stand ,
not by works but by Him who calls , she was told - , “ The older will serve the younger.”
So it is written : - “ Jacob I loved , but - Esau I hated.”
What then shall we say ? (Is) - - God unjust ? vvv Certainly not !
For He says to Moses : “ I will have mercy on whom vvv I have mercy , and I will have compassion on whom vvv I have compassion.”
So then , (it does) not (depend) on man’s desire (or) - effort , but on God’s mercy.
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.”
Therefore ... (God) has mercy on whom He wants (to have mercy ) , and He hardens whom He wants ( to harden ).
- One of you will say to me , “ Then why vvv does (God) still find fault ? For who can resist His - will ? ”
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 ?”
- {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 ?
- 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 ?
(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 —
including us , whom He has called not only from (the) Jews , but also from (the) Gentiles ?
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 ,”
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.’”
- Isaiah - cries out concerning - Israel : “ Though the number of the vvv Israelites is like the sand of the sea , (only) the remnant will be saved.
For (the) Lord will carry out (His) sentence on the earth thoroughly and decisively.”
- (It is) just as Isaiah - foretold : “ Unless ... (the) Lord of Hosts had left us descendants , vvv we would have become like Sodom , - vvv we would have resembled ... Gomorrah.”
What then will we say ? That (the) Gentiles , who vvv did not pursue righteousness , have obtained (it) , - a righteousness that (is) by faith ;
but Israel , who pursued a law of righteousness , vvv has not attained vvv (it).
Why (not) ... ? Because (their pursuit was) not by faith , but as if (it were) by works. They stumbled over the vvv stumbling stone ,
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 vvv will never be put to shame.”