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Romans 9-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

God’s Election of Israel

9 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit(A)— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood.(B) 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;(C) 5 to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever.[a] Amen.(D)

6 It is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those descended from Israel are Israelites,(E) 7 and not all of Abraham’s children are his descendants, but “it is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.”(F) 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9 For the word of the promise is this: “About this time I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”(G) 10 Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac:(H) 11 even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue, 12 not by works but by his call) she was told, “The elder shall serve the younger.”(I) 13 As it is written,

“I have loved Jacob,
    but I have hated Esau.”(J)

14 What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!(K) 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.”(L)

16 So it depends not on human will or exertion but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I may show my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”(M) 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.

God’s Wrath and Mercy

19 You will say to me then, “Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”(N) 20 But who indeed are you, a human, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?”(O) 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?(P) 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction,(Q) 23 and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 including us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the gentiles? 25 As he also says in Hosea,

“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
    and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ”(R)
26 “And in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
    there they shall be called children of the living God.”(S)

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved,(T) 28 for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth quickly and decisively.”[b] 29 And as Isaiah predicted,

“If the Lord of hosts had not left descendants to us,
    we would have fared like Sodom
    and been made like Gomorrah.”(U)

Israel’s Unbelief

30 What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith,(V) 31 but Israel, who did strive for the law of righteousness, did not attain that law.(W) 32 Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,(X) 33 as it is written,

“See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall,
    and whoever trusts in him[c] will not be put to shame.”(Y)

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not based on knowledge.(Z) 3 Not knowing the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.(AA) 4 For Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.(AB)

Salvation Is for All

5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.”(AC) 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say?

“The word is near you,
    in your mouth and in your heart”

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim),(AD) 9 because[d] if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe[e] in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.(AE) 10 For one believes[f] with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes[g] in him will be put to shame.”(AF) 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.(AG) 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”(AH)

14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed?[h] And how are they to believe[i] in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”(AI) 16 But not all have obeyed the good news,[j] for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed[k] our message?”(AJ) 17 So faith[l] comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.[m]

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have:

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth
    and their words to the ends of the world.”(AK)

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

“I will use those who are not a nation to make you jealous;
    with a foolish nation I will provoke you.”(AL)

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
    I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”(AM)

21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”(AN)

Israel’s Rejection Is Not Final

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.(AO) 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?(AP) 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what is the divine reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”(AQ) 5 So, too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.[n](AR)

7 What then? Israel has not achieved what it was pursuing. The elect have achieved it, but the rest were hardened,(AS) 8 as it is written,

“God gave them a sluggish spirit,
    eyes that would not see
    and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”(AT)

9 And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them;(AU)
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
    and keep their backs forever bent.”

The Salvation of the Gentiles

11 So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling[o] salvation has come to the gentiles, so as to make Israel[p] jealous.(AV) 12 Now if their stumbling[q] means riches for the world and if their loss means riches for gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

13 Now I am speaking to you gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle to the gentiles, I celebrate my ministry(AW) 14 in order to make my own people[r] jealous and thus save some of them.(AX) 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted among the others to share the rich root[s] of the olive tree, 18 do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember: you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off on account of unbelief,[t] but you stand on account of belief.[u] So do not become arrogant, but be afraid.(AY) 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.[v] 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you, if you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.(AZ) 23 And even those of Israel,[w] if they do not continue in unbelief,[x] will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.(BA) 24 For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

All Israel Will Be Saved

25 I want you to understand this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not claim to be wiser than you are: a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles has come in.(BB) 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“Out of Zion will come the Deliverer;
    he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.”(BC)
27 “And this is my covenant with them,
    when I take away their sins.”(BD)

28 As regards the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their ancestors, 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,(BE) 31 so also they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they also may now[y] receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.(BF)

33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!(BG)

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”(BH)
35 “Or who has given a gift to him,
    to receive a gift in return?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.(BI)

Footnotes

  1. 9.5 Or Messiah, who is God over all, blessed forever; or Messiah. May he who is God over all be blessed forever
  2. 9.28 Other ancient authorities read for he will finish his work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make the sentence shortened on the earth
  3. 9.33 Or it
  4. 10.9 Or namely, that
  5. 10.9 Or trust
  6. 10.10 Or trusts
  7. 10.11 Or trusts
  8. 10.14 Or trusted
  9. 10.14 Or trust
  10. 10.16 Or gospel
  11. 10.16 Or trusted
  12. 10.17 Or trust
  13. 10.17 Or about Christ; other ancient authorities read of God
  14. 11.6 Other ancient authorities add But if it is by works, it is no longer on the basis of grace, otherwise work would no longer be work
  15. 11.11 Or transgression
  16. 11.11 Gk them
  17. 11.12 Or transgression
  18. 11.14 Gk my flesh
  19. 11.17 Other ancient authorities read the root and the richness
  20. 11.20 Or faithlessness or lack of trust
  21. 11.20 Or faithfulness or trust
  22. 11.21 Other ancient authorities read perhaps he will not spare you
  23. 11.23 Gk lacks of Israel
  24. 11.23 Or faithlessness or lack of trust
  25. 11.31 Other ancient authorities lack now
Close LSB

Romans 9-11
Legacy Standard Bible

God’s Chosen People, 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 brothers, my kinsmen (D)according to the flesh, 4 who are (E)Israelites, to whom belongs (F)the adoption as sons, and (G)the glory and (H)the covenants and (I)the giving of the Law and (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 (O)God over all, (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 seed, but: “[d](T)through Isaac your seed will be named.” 8 That is, the children of the flesh are not the (U)children of God, but the (V)children of the promise are considered as seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: “(W)At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 (X)And not only this, but there was (Y)Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that the (Z)purpose of God according to His choice would [e]stand, not [f]because of works but [g]because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, “(AA)The older shall serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written, “(AB)Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 (AC)What shall we say then? (AD)Is there any unrighteousness with God? (AE)May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “(AF)I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it does not depend on the one who wills or the one who (AG)runs, but on (AH)God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “(AI)For this very purpose I raised you up, in order to demonstrate My power in you, and in order that My name might be proclaimed [h]throughout the whole earth.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He (AJ)hardens whom He desires.

19 (AK)You will say to me then, “(AL)Why does He still find fault? For (AM)who resists His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, (AN)O man, who (AO)answers back to God? (AP)Will the thing molded say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this”? 21 Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel [i]for honorable use and another [j]for dishonorable use? 22 And [k]what if God, wanting to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much (AQ)patience vessels of wrath (AR)having been prepared for destruction, 23 and in order that He might make known (AS)the riches of His glory upon (AT)vessels of mercy, which He (AU)prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom He also (AV)called, (AW)not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea,

“(AX)I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’
And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’”
26 “(AY)And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of (AZ)the living God.”

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “(BA)Though the number of the sons of Israel be (BB)like the sand of the sea, it is (BC)the remnant that will be saved; 28 (BD)for the Lord will execute His word on the land, [l]thoroughly and [m]quickly.” 29 And just as Isaiah foretold,

“(BE)Unless (BF)the Lord of [n]Sabaoth had left to us a seed,
(BG)We would have become like Sodom, and would have [o]resembled Gomorrah.”

30 (BH)What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, laid hold of righteousness, even (BI)the righteousness which is [p]by faith; 31 but Israel, (BJ)pursuing a law of righteousness, did not (BK)attain that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it [q]by faith, but as though it were [r]by works. They stumbled over (BL)the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written,

“(BM)Behold, I am laying in Zion (BN)a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,
(BO)And the one who believes upon Him (BP)will not be put to shame.”

10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have (BQ)a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For not knowing about the (BR)righteousness of God and (BS)seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For (BT)Christ is the [s]end of the law for righteousness to (BU)everyone who believes.

Faith Comes by Hearing

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of law: “(BV)The man who does these things shall live by them.” 6 But (BW)the righteousness of faith speaks in this way: “(BX)Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will go down into the (BY)abyss?’ (that is, to (BZ)bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “(CA)The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 [t]that (CB)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and (CC)believe in your heart that (CD)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [u]leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [v]leading to salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “(CE)Whoever believes upon Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For (CF)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is (CG)Lord of (CH)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him, 13 for “(CI)Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him (CJ)whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without (CK)a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “(CL)How beautiful are the feet of those who (CM)proclaim good news of good things!”

16 However, they (CN)did not all heed the [w]good news, for Isaiah says, “(CO)Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from (CP)hearing, and hearing by (CQ)the word [x]of Christ.

18 But I say, have they never heard? On the contrary, they have;

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

19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says,

“(CS)I will (CT)make you jealous by that which is not a nation,
By a nation without understanding will I anger you.”

20 And Isaiah is very bold and says,

“(CU)I was found by those who did not seek Me,
I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

21 But as for Israel He says, “(CV)All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

God Has Not Rejected Israel

11 I say then, has God (CW)rejected His people? (CX)May it never be! For (CY)I too am an Israelite, a seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 [z](CZ)God has not rejected His people whom He (DA)foreknew. (DB)Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, (DC)they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “(DD)I have left for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In this way then, at the present time, (DE)a remnant according to God’s [aa]gracious choice has also come to be. 6 But (DF)if it is by grace, it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

7 What then? What (DG)Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but the chosen obtained it, and the rest were (DH)hardened; 8 just as it is written,

“[ab](DI)God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.”

9 And David says,

“(DJ)Let their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 (DK)Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs forever.”

Gentiles Grafted In

11 (DL)I say then, did they stumble so as to fall? (DM)May it never be! But by their transgression (DN)salvation has come to the Gentiles, to (DO)make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their [ac](DP)fullness be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as (DQ)I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might (DR)move to jealousy (DS)my [ad]fellow countrymen and (DT)save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the (DU)reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but (DV)life from the dead? 16 And if the (DW)first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

17 But if some of the (DX)branches were broken off, and (DY)you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a partaker with them of the [ae]rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast against them, remember that (DZ)it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 (EA)You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right! They were broken off for their unbelief, but you (EB)stand by your faith. (EC)Do not be haughty, but fear, 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s (ED)kindness, (EE)if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also (EF)will be cut off. 23 And they also, (EG)if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

All Israel Will Be Saved

25 For (EH)I do not want you, brothers, to be uninformed of this (EI)mystery—so that you will not be (EJ)wise in your own estimation—that a partial (EK)hardening has happened to Israel until the (EL)fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“(EM)The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “(EN)And this is [af]My covenant with them,
(EO)When I take away their sins.”

28 [ag]From the standpoint of the gospel they are (EP)enemies for your sake, but [ah]from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for (EQ)the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the (ER)calling of God (ES)are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For (ET)God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

33 Oh, the depth of (EU)the riches and (EV)wisdom and knowledge of God! (EW)How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For (EX)who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or (EY)who has first given to Him [ai]that it might be repaid to him? 36 For (EZ)from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. (FA)To Him be the glory [aj]forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:3 Lit pray
  2. Romans 9:5 Messiah
  3. Romans 9:5 Lit to the ages
  4. Romans 9:7 Lit in
  5. Romans 9:11 Lit remain
  6. Romans 9:11 Lit from
  7. Romans 9:11 Lit from
  8. Romans 9:17 Lit in
  9. Romans 9:21 Lit for honor
  10. Romans 9:21 Lit for dishonor
  11. Romans 9:22 Lit But
  12. Romans 9:28 Lit finishing it
  13. Romans 9:28 Lit cutting it short
  14. Romans 9:29 Hosts
  15. Romans 9:29 Lit been made like
  16. Romans 9:30 Lit out of
  17. Romans 9:32 Lit out of
  18. Romans 9:32 Lit out of
  19. Romans 10:4 Or goal
  20. Romans 10:9 Or because
  21. Romans 10:10 Lit to righteousness
  22. Romans 10:10 Lit to salvation
  23. Romans 10:16 Or gospel
  24. Romans 10:17 Or concerning Christ
  25. Romans 10:18 Or inhabited earth
  26. Romans 11:2 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 94:14
  27. Romans 11:5 Lit choice of grace
  28. Romans 11:8 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 29:10
  29. Romans 11:12 Or fulfillment
  30. Romans 11:14 Lit flesh
  31. Romans 11:17 Lit root of the fatness
  32. Romans 11:27 Lit the covenant from Me
  33. Romans 11:28 Lit According to the gospel
  34. Romans 11:28 Lit according to the election
  35. Romans 11:35 Lit and it will be paid back
  36. Romans 11:36 Lit to the ages
Listen to Romans 9-11
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Romans 9-11
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)

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!(CN) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,(CO) from the tribe of Benjamin.(CP) 2 God did not reject his people,(CQ) whom he foreknew.(CR) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[z]?(CS) 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[aa](CT) 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant(CU) chosen by grace.(CV) 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;(CW) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.(CX) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,(CY) 8 as it is written:

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

9 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,(DB)
    and their backs be bent forever.”[ac](DC)

Ingrafted Branches

11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!(DD) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles(DE) to make Israel envious.(DF) 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,(DG) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,(DH) I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy(DI) and save(DJ) some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation(DK) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?(DL) 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits(DM) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 If some of the branches have been broken off,(DN) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others(DO) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.(DP) 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.(DQ) Do not be arrogant,(DR) but tremble.(DS) 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22 Consider therefore the kindness(DT) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue(DU) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.(DV) 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.(DW) 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,(DX) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

25 I do not want you to be ignorant(DY) of this mystery,(DZ) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:(EA) Israel has experienced a hardening(EB) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,(EC) 26 and in this way[ad] all Israel will be saved.(ED) As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is[ae] my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”[af](EE)

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies(EF) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,(EG) 29 for God’s gifts and his call(EH) are irrevocable.(EI) 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient(EJ) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[ag] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience(EK) so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

33 Oh, the depth of the riches(EL) of the wisdom and[ah] knowledge of God!(EM)
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!(EN)
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”[ai](EO)
35 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”[aj](EP)
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.(EQ)
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.(ER)

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
  26. Romans 11:3 1 Kings 19:10,14
  27. Romans 11:4 1 Kings 19:18
  28. Romans 11:8 Deut. 29:4; Isaiah 29:10
  29. Romans 11:10 Psalm 69:22,23
  30. Romans 11:26 Or and so
  31. Romans 11:27 Or will be
  32. Romans 11:27 Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9 (see Septuagint); Jer. 31:33,34
  33. Romans 11:31 Some manuscripts do not have now.
  34. Romans 11:33 Or riches and the wisdom and the
  35. Romans 11:34 Isaiah 40:13
  36. Romans 11:35 Job 41:11
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