Romans 9:19-29

Contemporary English Version

God's Anger and Mercy

¹⁹Someone may ask, “How can God blame us, if he makes us behave in the way he wants us to?” ²⁰^(A) But, my friend, I ask, “Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did? ²¹^(B) Doesn't a potter have the right to make a fancy bowl and a plain bowl out of the same lump of clay?”

²²^(C) God wanted to show his anger and reveal his power against everyone who deserved to be destroyed. But instead, he patiently put up with them. ²³He did this by showing how glorious he is when he has pity on the people he has chosen to share in his glory. ²⁴Whether Jews or Gentiles, we are those chosen ones, ²⁵^(D) just as the Lord says in the book of Hosea,

“Although they are not
my people,
I will make them my people.
I will treat with love
those nations
that have never been loved.

²⁶^(E) “Once they were told,
‘You are not my people.’
But in that very place
they will be called
children of the living God.”

²⁷^(F) And this is what the prophet Isaiah said about the people of Israel,

“The people of Israel
    are as many
as the grains of sand
    along the beach.
But only a few who are left
    will be saved.
²⁸The Lord will be quick
    and sure to do on earth
what he has warned
    he will do.”