Romans 9

1 I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie, my conscience also bears witness together with the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart (for my brothers to be saved).

3 For I could (begin to) wish that I were accursed from Christ for my brothers (sake), my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption (of sons), and the (appearance of God’s) glory, and the covenants, and the giving of (the lively oracles) of (God in) the law, and the service of God (in the tabernacle), and the promises (of God);

5 Who are the fathers (pertaining to all these things), and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is above all, God blessed forever. Amen.

6 It is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel (according to the flesh):

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but (as it is written) in Isaac shall your seed be called (the children of promise).

8 That is, they who are the children of the flesh (born from the will of the flesh), these are not the children (born) of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed (of Abraham, which is Christ).

9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come (upon you), and Sarah 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 not yet having been born, neither having done any good or evil, so that the purpose of God (to glorify them with His life) according to election (of the life He desired for them) might be established, (that it would) not (be by) their works (born from the will of the flesh), but by Him that calls (them unto the life that only He can pour out for them);}

12 It was said to Rebecca, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, (the way of) Jacob (born of promise) have I loved (because it is unto everlasting life), but (the way of) Esau (born of the flesh) have I hated (because it is unto destruction).

14 What shall we say then? Is there any injustice with God? God forbid.

15 For He said 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 by him that wills, nor by him that runs (that they will experience this mercy and goodness), but of God that shows mercy.

17 For the scripture said to Pharaoh (who despised the riches of God’s grace), Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show My power in you (to manifest what looking to the strength of your own hand will bring), and so that My name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whomever (despises His mercy) will He (manifest what their) harden (hearts will bring forth).

19 You will say then to me, Why does He yet find fault (with them)? For who has resisted His will (as if it is God's will that they be hardened)?

20 No but, O man, who are you that reply (in accusation) against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why have you made me like this?

21 Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make (manifest what is already in the heart of) one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor?

22 What if God, willing to show His wrath (against that way that dishonors), and to make His power known (as the way that honors), endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath (who despising the riches of His grace have) fashioned (themselves) for destruction:

23 And so that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, (on those born from the promise of His life and immortality) which He had before prepared for glory,

24 Even us, whom He has called (into fellowship with His Son, by whom He has justified us from death unto life), not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25 As He also said in Hosea, I will call them My people, which were not My people; and the beloved, which was not beloved.

26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people; there shall they be called the children of the living God (in whom they shall live and abide forever).

27 Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, (only) a remnant shall be saved (according to the election of grace):

28 For He will bring His Word to completion, swiftly (and without delay to gather all things to Himself in righteousness) upon the earth.

29 And as Isaiah said before, Except the Lord of Hosts had left us an (incorruptible) seed, we would have been as Sodom and been made like to Gomorrah (at His appearing).

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of (the) faith (of Jesus Christ).

31 But Israel, which followed after (the teaching and instruction in) the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness (but has missed the mark).

32 Why? Because they did not seek it (according to the election of grace) by (the) faith (of Him who is the only one who could ever serve them with an endless life), but by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone (which is Christ, in whom the righteousness spoken of in the law is brought to completion);