Romans 11:1-10 ▼

1 You will say then, hath God discarded his people? by no means, for I my self am an Israelite, of the posterity of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not discarded his people whom he formerly approv'd, don't you know what the scripture says of Elias? how he complain'd to God against Israel,

3 in these words, "Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I alone am left, and they seek my life also."

4 but what said the oracle to him? "I have reserved to my self seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal."

5 in like manner at this time there is also a remnant chosen by the divine favour;

6 and if it be by favour, it is not upon the account of merit, for then mercy would not be mercy.

7 "What then, hath not Israel obtained what he sought for?" no, but the chosen remnant have obtained it, and the rest are obdurate to this day,

8 as it is written, "God hath given them up to a state of insensibility, so that their eyes could not see, and their ears could not hear."

9 and David says, "let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a gin, and a recompence for their iniquity.

10 let their eyes be darkned, so as not to see, and let their back be continually bowed down."