Romans 11:1-8 ▼

1 I say, then, Did God cast away His people? let it not be! for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin:

2 God did not cast away His people whom He knew before; have ye not known -- in Elijah -- what the Writing saith? how he doth plead with God concerning Israel, saying,

3 'Lord, Thy prophets they did kill, and Thy altars they dug down, and I was left alone, and they seek my life;'

4 but what saith the divine answer to him? 'I left to Myself seven thousand men, who did not bow a knee to Baal.'

5 So then also in the present time a remnant according to the choice of grace there hath been;

6 and if by grace, no more of works, otherwise the grace becometh no more grace; and if of works, it is no more grace, otherwise the work is no more work.

7 What then? What Israel doth seek after, this it did not obtain, and the chosen did obtain, and the rest were hardened,

8 according as it hath been written, 'God gave to them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear,' -- unto this very day,