Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to Romans 9
Close ESV

Romans 9
English Standard Version

God's Sovereign Choice

9 (A)I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For (B)I could wish that I myself were (C)accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,[a] my kinsmen (D)according to the flesh. 4 They are (E)Israelites, and to them belong (F)the adoption, (G)the glory, (H)the covenants, (I)the giving of the law, (J)the worship, and (K)the promises. 5 To them belong (L)the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, (M)who is God over all, (N)blessed forever. Amen.

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham (O)because they are his offspring, but (P)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but (Q)the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: (R)“About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but (S)also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of (T)him who calls— 12 she was told, (U)“The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, (V)“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? (W)Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, (X)“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[b] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, (Y)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For (Z)who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, (AA)to answer back to God? (AB)Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 (AC)Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump (AD)one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience (AE)vessels of wrath (AF)prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known (AG)the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he (AH)has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he (AI)has called, (AJ)not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,

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

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: (AN)“Though the number of the sons of Israel[c] be as the sand of the sea, (AO)only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,

(AP)(AQ)“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
    (AR)we would have been like Sodom
    and become like Gomorrah.”

Israel's Unbelief

30 What shall we say, then? (AS)That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, (AT)a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel (AU)who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness[d] (AV)did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the (AW)stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,

(AX)“Behold, I am laying in Zion (AY)a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
    (AZ)and whoever believes in him will not be (BA)put to shame.”

Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:3 Or brothers and sisters
  2. Romans 9:16 Greek not of him who wills or runs
  3. Romans 9:27 Or children of Israel
  4. Romans 9:31 Greek a law of righteousness
Close ERV-ZH

羅 馬 書 9
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version

上帝与犹太人

9 我在基督里说实话，我不撒谎，我那被圣灵照亮的良知可以为我作证。 2 我为了犹太人，内心感到痛苦不堪，忧伤不止。 3 他们是我的兄弟姐妹、骨肉之亲，但愿我能帮助他们。如果我能帮助他们，我情愿遭受诅咒，和基督分开。 4 他们是以色列人 [a]，他们是上帝挑选的孩子。他们有上帝的荣耀，有上帝亲自与他们订立的契约。上帝赐给了他们摩西律法、崇拜大殿的礼拜和他的许诺。 5 他们是我们伟大的先父们的后代，从凡人的角度来说，他们是基督的家族的成员，基督是凌驾于一切的上帝。永远赞美他，阿们！

6 我并不是说上帝没有实践他给犹太人的诺言，但是，只有部分以色列人实际上是真正的以色列人 [b]， 7 只有部分亚伯拉罕的后代是他的真正的儿女。正如上帝对亚伯拉罕所说∶“经以撒所延续的后裔，才是你的后代。” 8 此话含义是，不是所有的亚伯拉罕后代都是上帝真正的孩子。亚伯拉罕的真正孩子是那些成为上帝的孩子的人—因为上帝对亚伯拉罕的诺言，他们才成为上帝的孩子。 9 在诺言中，上帝说∶“大概明年这个时候，我会回来，撒拉将生个儿子。” [c]

10 不但如此，利百加还生了两个儿子，他们的父亲是我们的祖先以撒。 在他们出生前，上帝便对利百加说∶“大儿子要伺候小儿子。”这是在他们还没有做任何好事或坏事之前。上帝在他们出生之前这么说，因为这是上帝的计划，以便他想要的男孩被选。他被挑选，是因为他是上帝想要召唤的人，而不是根据他们的所作所为。 13 正如《经》中所说∶“我喜爱雅各，却恨以扫。”

14 那么我们该说什么呢？上帝不公平吗？当然不是。 15 因为他对摩西说∶“我要施仁慈给谁就给谁；我要怜悯谁就怜悯谁。” 16 所以，上帝的选择不是根据某人的愿望或努力所决定的，而是出于上帝的仁慈。 17 上帝在《经》里对法老说∶“我抬举你到这个位置是为了这个目的：通过你显示我的力量，使我的名字传遍世界。” 18 所以，他要施仁慈给谁就给谁，要使谁顽固就使谁顽固。

19 那么你们当中会有人问： "“既然上帝支配我们的行为，那么为什么他还要责怪我们的罪恶呢？" 20 不要这么问。你们只不过是凡人，没有权力质问上帝。一个瓦罐怎么能对制造它的人说∶“你为什么把我造成这个样子呢？” 21 造瓦罐的人可随意制造他要造的东西，他用同一团泥土造出不同的东西。他可以用它造一个特殊的器皿，也可以用它造一个日常用的普通器皿。

22 同样，上帝所做的也是如此。他过去要显示出他的愤怒，让人们知晓他的权力，但是，他还是以极大的耐心，宽容了使他发怒的人们—也就是那些本应被毁掉的人们。 23 上帝过去忍耐着，以便使他丰盛的荣耀为人所知，这些人是他挑选去领受他仁慈的人，上帝事先已准备了他们去分享这荣耀。 24 我们就是受到上帝挑选的那些人，我们不但来自犹太人，而且也来自非犹太人， 25 就像他在《何西阿书》中所说的那样：

“那些不曾是我的子民的人，
我将称他们为我的子民；
不曾被爱的人们，
我将要称他们是我所爱的人。” (A)

26 “在同一处，上帝说道：
‘你们不是我的子民—’
在那里他们将被称为活生生的上帝的儿女。” (B)

27 以赛亚对以色列 [d]呼唤道：

“虽然以色列的后代像海沙那么多，
数不胜数，但是，却只有一小部分人将会得救。
28 因为主将迅速彻底地执行降临在地上的判决。” (C)

29 正如以赛亚预言的那样：

“假如万能的主没有给我们留下后代，
我们早就像所多玛和蛾摩拉一样了。” (D)

30 那么，这是什么意思呢？这意思是：非犹太人因为他们的信仰得到上帝的认可，尽管他们自己不追求得到上帝的认可。 31 而靠遵守摩西律法企图得到上帝认可的以色列人却没有成功。 32 为什么呢？因为他们企图凭自己的行为、而没有凭信赖上帝去得到上帝的认可，结果他们跌在那块绊脚石上了。 33 就像《经》上谈到那块绊脚：

“看，我在锡安 [e]放了一块绊脚石，
是一块绊脚的岩石，
然而，凡是信仰他的人，
绝不会失望。” (E)

Footnotes

  1. 羅 馬 書 9:4 以色列人： 犹太民族。
  2. 羅 馬 書 9:6 上帝的子民： 以色列人，上帝选择他们把祝福带到世上。
  3. 羅 馬 書 9:9 引自：《创世记》。
  4. 羅 馬 書 9:27 以色列人： 犹太民族。
  5. 羅 馬 書 9:33 锡安： 以色列人的另一个名字，即上帝子民之城。
Close NTFE

Romans 9
New Testament for Everyone

The privileges and tragedy of Israel

9 I’m speaking the truth in the Messiah, I’m not lying. I call my conscience as witness, in the holy spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and endless pain in my heart. 3 Left to my own self, I am half inclined to pray that I would be accursed, cut off from the Messiah, on behalf of my own family, my own flesh-and-blood relatives. 4 They are Israelites: the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises all belong to them. 5 The patriarchs are their ancestors; and it is from them, according to the flesh, that the Messiah has come—who is God over all, blessed forever, Amen!

Abraham’s two families

6 But it can’t be the case that God’s word has failed! Not all who are from Israel, you see, are in fact Israel. 7 Nor is it the case that all the children count as “seed of Abraham.” No: “in Isaac shall your seed be named.” 8 That means that it isn’t the flesh-and-blood children who are God’s children; rather, it is the children of the promise who will be calculated as “seed.” 9 This was what the promise said, you see: “Around this time I shall return, and Sarah shall have a son.”

10 And that’s not all. The same thing happened when Rebecca conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac. 11 When they had not yet been born, and had done nothing either good or bad—so that what God had in mind in making his choice might come to pass, 12 not because of works but because of the one who calls—it was said to her, “the elder shall serve the younger.” 13 As the Bible says, “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.”

God’s purpose and justice

14 So what are we going to say? Is God unjust? Certainly not! 15 He says to Moses, you see, “I will have mercy on those on whom I will have mercy, and I will pity those I will pity.” 16 So, then, it doesn’t depend on human willing, or on human effort; it depends on God who shows mercy. 17 For the Bible says to Pharaoh: “This is why I have raised you up, to show my power in you, and so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So, then, he has mercy on the one he wants, and he hardens the one he wants.

19 You will say to me, then, “So why does he still blame people? Who can stand against his purpose?” 20 Are you, a mere human being, going to answer God back? “Surely the clay won’t say to the potter, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” 21 Doesn’t the potter have authority over the clay, so that he can make from the same lump one vessel for honor, and another for dishonor? 22 Supposing God wanted to demonstrate his anger and make known his power, and for that reason put up very patiently with the vessels of anger created for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, the ones he prepared in advance for glory— 24 including us, whom he called not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles?

God calls a remnant

25 This is what he says in Hosea,

I will call “not my people” “my people”;
and “not beloved” I will call “beloved.”
26 And in the place where it was said to them,
“You are not my people,”
there they will be called “sons of the living God.”

27 Isaiah cries out, concerning Israel,

Even if the number of Israel’s sons are like the sand by the sea,
only a remnant shall be saved;
28 for the Lord will bring judgment on the earth, complete and decisive.

29 As Isaiah said in an earlier passage,

If the Lord of hosts had not left us seed,
we would have become like Sodom, and been made like Gomorrah.

Israel, the nations and the Messiah

30 What then shall we say? That the nations, who were not aspiring towards covenant membership, have obtained covenant membership, but it is a covenant membership based on faith. 31 Israel meanwhile, though eager for the law which defined the covenant, did not attain to the law. 32 Why not? Because they did not pursue it on the basis of faith, but as though it was on the basis of works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as the Bible says,

Look: I am placing in Zion
a stone that will make people stumble,
a rock that will trip people up;
and the one who believes in him
will never be put to shame.

Listen to Romans 9
Close NIV

Romans 9
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)

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
Next
Romans 8
Romans 10
Next
dropdown
English Standard Version (ESV)

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

ESV Study Bible
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-ZH)

Copyright © 2004 by World Bible Translation Center

New Testament for Everyone (NTFE)

Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.

New Testament for Everyone translated by Tom Wright
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV