Romans 9:1-21 ▼

1 I am telling the truth because I belong to the Messiah —I am not lying, and my conscience confirms it by means of the Holy Spirit.

2 I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart,

3 for I could wish that I myself were condemned and cut off from the Messiah for the sake of my brothers, my own people,

4 who are Israelis. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises.

5 To the Israelis belong the patriarchs, and from them, the Messiah descended, who is God over all, the one who is forever blessed. Amen.

6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel,

7 and not all of Abraham's descendants are his true descendants. On the contrary, |It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you.|

8 That is, it is not merely the children born through natural descent who were regarded as God's children, but it is the children born through the promise who were regarded as descendants.

9 For this is the language of the promise: |At this time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.|

10 Not only that, but Rebecca became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac.

11 Yet before their children had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's plan of election might continue to operate

12 according to his calling and not by actions), Rebecca was told, |The older child will serve the younger one.|

13 So it is written, |Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.|

14 What can we say, then? God is not unrighteous, is he? Of course not!

15 For he says to Moses, |I will be merciful to the person I want to be merciful to, and I will be kind to the person I want to be kind to.|

16 Therefore, God's choice does not depend on a person's will or effort, but on God himself, who shows mercy.

17 For the Scripture says about Pharaoh, |I have raised you up for this very purpose, to demonstrate my power through you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.|

18 Therefore, God has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.

19 You may ask me, |Then why does God still find fault with anybody? For who can resist his will?|

20 On the contrary, who are you—mere man that you are—to talk back to God? Can an object that was molded say to the one who molded it, |Why did you make me like this?|

21 A potter has the right to do what he wants to with his clay, doesn't he? He can make something for a special occasion or something for ordinary use from the same lump of clay.