Deep Concern for Israel

9 ^(A)I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. ³ For ^(B)I could ^[a]wish that I myself were ^(C)accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my countrymen, my kinsmen ^(D)according to the flesh, ⁴ who are ^(E)Israelites, to whom belongs ^(F)the adoption as sons and daughters, ^(G)the glory, ^(H)the covenants, ^(I)the giving of the Law, ^(J)the temple service, and ^(K)the promises; ⁵ whose are ^(L)the fathers, and ^(M)from whom is the ^[b]Christ according to the flesh, ^(N)who is over all, ^(O)God ^(P)blessed ^[c]forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though ^(Q)the word of God has failed. ^(R)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; ⁷ nor are they all children ^(S)because they are Abraham’s ^[d](T)descendants, but: “^[e](U)through Isaac your ^[f]descendants shall be named.” ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh ^[g]who are ^(V)children of God, but the ^(W)children of the promise are regarded as ^[h](X)descendants.

⁷ Therefore, recognize that ^(A)it is those who are of faith who are ^(B)sons of Abraham.

¹⁵ So Hagar bore a son to Abram; and Abram named his son, to whom Hagar gave birth, Ishmael. ¹⁶ Abram was ^(A)eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to ^[a]him.

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision

17 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, ^(B)the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him,

¹³ Just as it is written: “^(A)Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

^14 (B)What shall we say then? ^(C)There is no injustice with God, is there? ^[a](D)Far from it! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “^(E)I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.”