Romans 9

Paul expresses great sorrow for Israel and argues that God's word has not failed, because not all who are of Israel are truly Israel. He defends God's sovereign right to show mercy on whom He will and to harden whom He will, as the potter has power over the clay.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,	I am speaking the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience confirms it in the Holy Ghost—
2	That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.	that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3	For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:	I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.
4	Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;	They are Israelites. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
5	Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.	Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, came Christ, Who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
6	Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:	It is not as though God's word has failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7	Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.	Not all of Abraham's children are his true descendants, but "Through Isaac your seed will be named."
8	That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.	This means it is not the children of the flesh who are God's children, but the children of the promise who are counted as the seed.
9	For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.	For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son."
10	And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;	Not only that, but when Rebecca had conceived children by one man — our forefather 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 calleth;)	before the twins were born and had done anything good or bad — so that God's purpose in election would stand, not by works but by His call—
12	It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.	she was told: "The older will serve the younger."
13	As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.	As it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
14	What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.	What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Not at all!
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.	For He says 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 that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.	So then, it does not depend on human will or effort, but on God Who shows mercy.
17	For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.	The scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose — to display My power in you, so that My name might be proclaimed throughout all the earth."
18	Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.	So then, He has mercy on whom He will, and He hardens whom He will.
19	Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?	You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?"
20	Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?	But who are you, O man, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, "Why have you made me like this?"
21	Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?	Does not the potter have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for common use?
22	What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:	What if God, wanting to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction—
23	And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,	in order to make known the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory—
24	Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?	even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
25	As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.	As He says in Hosea: "Those who were not My people I will call My people, and her who was not beloved I will call 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 the children of the living God.	"In the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' there they will be called children of the living God."
27	Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:	Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved."
28	For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.	"For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth completely and without delay."
29	And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.	As Isaiah said previously: "If the Lord of Sabaoth had not left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom and been made like Gomorrah."
30	What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.	What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it — the righteousness that is by faith.
31	But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.	But Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
32	Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;	Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
33	As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.	as it is written: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone that causes stumbling and a rock of offense. Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."