Romans 9:17-24
New Living Translation
17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”[a] 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.
19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?”
20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.
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Romans 9:17-24
Amplified Bible
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very purpose, to display My power in [dealing with] you, and so that My name would be proclaimed in all the earth.”(A) 18 So then, He has mercy on whom He wills (chooses), and He hardens [the heart of] whom He wills.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”(B) 21 Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump [of clay] one object for honorable use [something beautiful or distinctive] and another for common use [something ordinary or menial]? 22 What if God, although willing to show His [terrible] wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of His wrath [which are] prepared for destruction?(C) 23 And what if He has done so to make known the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory, 24 including us, whom He also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles?
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Romans 9:17-24
New International Version
17 For 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.”[a](A) 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.(B)
19 One of you will say to me:(C) “Then why does God still blame us?(D) For who is able to resist his will?”(E) 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?(F) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,(G) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[b](H) 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?(I)
22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience(J) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?(K) 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory(L) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory(M)— 24 even us, whom he also called,(N) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?(O)
Footnotes
- Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16
- Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9
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