Romans 9:1-21 ▼

1 I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing me testimony in the Holy Spirit,

2 That I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart;

3 for I could wish myself to be accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh;

4 who are Israelites, to whom belong the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service, and the promises;

5 to whom belong the fathers, and of whom is the Christ, as it respects the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

6 It is not possible that the word of God has failed; for they are not all Israel who are of Israel.

7 Nor, because they are the posterity of Abraham, are they all children: but in Isaac shall your posterity be called.

8 That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the posterity.

9 For the word of the promise is this: At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

10 Not only so, but when Rebecca had conceived by one, even our father Isaac,

11 (the children, indeed, having not yet been born, and having done neither good nor evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calls,)

12 it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger;

13 as it is written: Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What, then, shall we say? Is there unrighteousness with. God? It can not be.

15 For he says to Moses: I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy; and I will show compassion to whom I will show compassion.

16 Therefore, it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy.

17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh: For this very purpose have I raised you up, that I may show in you my power, and that my name may be published in all the earth.

18 Therefore, he has mercy on whom he wills to have mercy: and whom he wills to harden, he hardens.

19 You will then say to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?

20 No, but rather, O man, who are you that dispute with God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed, it, Why have you made me thus?

21 Has not the potter power over the clay, to make from the same mass one vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?