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Romans 9-10
Christian Standard Bible

Israel’s Rejection of Christ

9 I speak the truth in Christ(A)—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit[a]— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish(B) that I myself were cursed(C) and cut off[b] from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. 4 They are Israelites,(D) and to them belong the adoption,(E) the glory,(F) the covenants,(G) the giving of the law,(H) the temple service,(I) and the promises.(J) 5 The ancestors are theirs,(K) and from them, by physical descent,[c] came the Christ,(L) who is God(M) over all,(N) praised forever.[d](O) Amen.

God’s Gracious Election of Israel

6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed,(P) because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(Q) 7 Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants.[e](R) On the contrary, your offspring will be traced[f] through Isaac.[g](S) 8 That is, it is not the children by physical descent[h] who are God’s children,(T) but the children of the promise(U) are considered to be the offspring. 9 For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.[i](V) 10 And not only that,(W) but Rebekah conceived children(X) through one man, our father Isaac. 11 For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand(Y)— 12 not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.[j](Z) 13 As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.[k](AA)

God’s Selection Is Just

14 What should we say then?(AB) Is there injustice with God?(AC) Absolutely not!(AD) 15 For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.[l](AE) 16 So then, it does not depend on human will or effort(AF) but on God who shows mercy.(AG) 17 For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.[m](AH) 18 So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.(AI)

19 You will say to me,(AJ) therefore, “Why then does he still find fault?(AK) For who resists his will?” (AL) 20 On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?(AM) Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” (AN) 21 Or has the potter no right over the clay,(AO) to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? 22 And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience(AP) objects of wrath prepared for destruction?(AQ) 23 And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory(AR) on objects of mercy(AS) that he prepared beforehand for glory(AT)— 24 on us, the ones he also called,(AU) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?(AV) 25 As it[n] also says in Hosea,

I will call Not My People, My People,
and she who is Unloved, Beloved.[o](AW)
26 And it will be in the place where they were told,
you are not my people,
there they will be called sons of the living God.[p](AX)

27 But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,

Though the number of Israelites
is like the sand of the sea,(AY)
only the remnant will be saved;(AZ)
28 since the Lord will execute his sentence
completely and decisively on the earth.[q][r] (BA)

29 And just as Isaiah predicted:

If the Lord of Armies had not left us offspring,(BB)
we would have become like Sodom,
and we would have been made like Gomorrah.[s](BC)

Israel’s Present State

30 What should we say then?(BD) Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith.(BE) 31 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness,(BF) has not achieved the righteousness of the law.[t](BG) 32 Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works.[u] They stumbled over the stumbling stone.(BH) 33 As it is written,

Look, I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over
and a rock to trip over,
and the one who believes on him(BI)
will not be put to shame.[v](BJ)

Righteousness by Faith Alone

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them[w] is for their salvation. 2 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God,(BK) but not according to knowledge. 3 Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God(BL) and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end[x] of the law for righteousness(BM) to everyone who believes,(BN) 5 since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.[y](BO) 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith(BP) speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?”[z](BQ) that is, to bring Christ down 7 or, “Who will go down into the abyss?”[aa](BR) that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.(BS) 8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.[ab](BT) This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(BU) and believe in your heart(BV) that God raised him from the dead,(BW) you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,[ac](BX) 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek,(BY) because the same Lord(BZ) of all(CA) richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.[ad](CB)

Israel’s Rejection of the Message

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him?(CC) And how can they hear without a preacher?(CD) 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful[ae] are the feet of those who bring good news.[af](CE) 16 But not all obeyed the gospel.(CF) For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?[ag](CG) 17 So faith comes from what is heard,(CH) and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.[ah](CI) 18 But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did:

Their voice has gone out to the whole earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.[ai](CJ)

19 But I ask, “Did Israel not understand?” First, Moses said,

I will make you jealous
of those who are not a nation;(CK)
I will make you angry by a nation
that lacks understanding.[aj](CL)

20 And Isaiah says boldly,

I was found
by those who were not looking for me;
I revealed myself
to those who were not asking for me.[ak](CM)

21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.[al](CN)

Footnotes

  1. 9:1 Or testifying with me by the Holy Spirit
  2. 9:3 Lit to be anathema
  3. 9:5 Lit them, according to the flesh
  4. 9:5 Or the Messiah, the one who is over all, the God who is blessed forever, or Messiah. God, who is over all, be blessed forever
  5. 9:7 Lit seed
  6. 9:7 Lit called
  7. 9:7 Gn 21:12
  8. 9:8 Lit children of the flesh
  9. 9:9 Gn 18:10,14
  10. 9:12 Gn 25:23
  11. 9:13 Mal 1:2–3
  12. 9:15 Ex 33:19
  13. 9:17 Ex 9:16
  14. 9:25 Or he
  15. 9:25 Hs 2:23
  16. 9:26 Hs 1:10
  17. 9:28 Or land
  18. 9:27–28 Is 10:22–23; 28:22; Hs 1:10
  19. 9:29 Is 1:9
  20. 9:31 Other mss read the law for righteousness
  21. 9:32 Other mss add of the law
  22. 9:33 Is 8:14; 28:16
  23. 10:1 Other mss read God for Israel
  24. 10:4 Or goal
  25. 10:5 Lv 18:5
  26. 10:6 Dt 9:4; 30:12
  27. 10:7 Dt 30:13
  28. 10:8 Dt 30:14
  29. 10:11 Is 28:16
  30. 10:13 Jl 2:32
  31. 10:15 Or welcome, or timely
  32. 10:15 Is 52:7; Nah 1:15
  33. 10:16 Is 53:1
  34. 10:17 Other mss read God
  35. 10:18 Ps 19:4
  36. 10:19 Dt 32:21
  37. 10:20 Is 65:1
  38. 10:21 Is 65:2
Listen to Romans 9-10
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Romans 9-10
New International Version

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,(A) my conscience confirms(B) it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself(C) were cursed(D) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,(E) those of my own race,(F) 4 the people of Israel.(G) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;(H) theirs the divine glory,(I) the covenants,(J) the receiving of the law,(K) the temple worship(L) and the promises.(M) 5 Theirs are the patriarchs,(N) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,(O) who is God over all,(P) forever praised![a](Q) Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

6 It is not as though God’s word(R) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(S) 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b](T) 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,(U) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.(V) 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[c](W)

10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.(X) 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad(Y)—in order that God’s purpose(Z) in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d](AA) 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[e](AB)

14 What then shall we say?(AC) Is God unjust? Not at all!(AD) 15 For he says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[f](AE)

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.(AF) 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.”[g](AG) 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.(AH)

19 One of you will say to me:(AI) “Then why does God still blame us?(AJ) For who is able to resist his will?”(AK) 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?(AL) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,(AM) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[h](AN) 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?(AO)

22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience(AP) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?(AQ) 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory(AR) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory(AS)— 24 even us, whom he also called,(AT) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?(AU) 25 As he says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
    and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”[i](AV)

26 and,

“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.’”[j](AW)

27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,(AX)
    only the remnant will be saved.(AY)
28 For the Lord will carry out
    his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”[k](AZ)

29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:

“Unless the Lord Almighty(BA)
    had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
    we would have been like Gomorrah.”[l](BB)

Israel’s Unbelief

30 What then shall we say?(BC) That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;(BD) 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,(BE) have not attained their goal.(BF) 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.(BG) 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.”[m](BH)

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire(BI) and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous(BJ) for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.(BK) 4 Christ is the culmination of the law(BL) so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.(BM)

5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”[n](BN) 6 But the righteousness that is by faith(BO) says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[o](BP) (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”[p](BQ) (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).(BR) 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[q](BS) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare(BT) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(BU) and believe(BV) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,(BW) you will be saved.(BX) 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[r](BY) 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile(BZ)—the same Lord is Lord of all(CA) and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord(CB) will be saved.”[s](CC)

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[t](CD)

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.(CE) For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[u](CF) 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,(CG) and the message is heard through the word about Christ.(CH) 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.”[v](CI)

19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

“I will make you envious(CJ) by those who are not a nation;
    I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”[w](CK)

20 And Isaiah boldly says,

“I was found by those who did not seek me;
    I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”[x](CL)

21 But concerning Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands
    to a disobedient and obstinate people.”[y](CM)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:5 Or Messiah, who is over all. God be forever praised! Or Messiah. God who is over all be forever praised!
  2. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
  3. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14
  4. Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23
  5. Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3
  6. Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19
  7. Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16
  8. Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9
  9. Romans 9:25 Hosea 2:23
  10. Romans 9:26 Hosea 1:10
  11. Romans 9:28 Isaiah 10:22,23 (see Septuagint)
  12. Romans 9:29 Isaiah 1:9
  13. Romans 9:33 Isaiah 8:14; 28:16
  14. Romans 10:5 Lev. 18:5
  15. Romans 10:6 Deut. 30:12
  16. Romans 10:7 Deut. 30:13
  17. Romans 10:8 Deut. 30:14
  18. Romans 10:11 Isaiah 28:16 (see Septuagint)
  19. Romans 10:13 Joel 2:32
  20. Romans 10:15 Isaiah 52:7
  21. Romans 10:16 Isaiah 53:1
  22. Romans 10:18 Psalm 19:4
  23. Romans 10:19 Deut. 32:21
  24. Romans 10:20 Isaiah 65:1
  25. Romans 10:21 Isaiah 65:2
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