Israel’s Unbelief

30 What then shall we say?(A) That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;(B) 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,(C) have not attained their goal.(D) 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.(E) 33 As it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall,
    and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[a](F)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:33 Isaiah 8:14; 28:16

Israel’s Unbelief

30 What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law[a] instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,

“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem[b] that makes people stumble,
    a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 9:32 Greek by works.
  2. 9:33a Greek in Zion.
  3. 9:33b Isa 8:14; 28:16 (Greek version).

Present Condition of Israel

30 What shall we say then? (A)That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, (B)even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, (C)pursuing the law of righteousness, (D)has not attained to the law [a]of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, [b]by the works of the law. For (E)they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:

(F)“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And (G)whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:31 NU omits of righteousness
  2. Romans 9:32 NU by works, omitting of the law