What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.(A) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,(B) as it is written:

“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that could not see
    and ears that could not hear,(C)
to this very day.”[a](D)

And David says:

“May their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,(E)
    and their backs be bent forever.”[b](F)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:8 Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10
  2. Romans 11:10 Psalm 69:22,23

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say,

“God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
    and closed their ears so they do not hear.”[a]

Likewise, David said,

“Let their bountiful table become a snare,
    a trap that makes them think all is well.
Let their blessings cause them to stumble,
    and let them get what they deserve.
10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
    and let their backs be bent forever.”[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 11:8 Isa 29:10; Deut 29:4.
  2. 11:9-10 Ps 69:22-23 (Greek version).