Romans 9:1-21 ▼

1 I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit--

2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed--cut off from Christ--for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,

4 who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.

6 It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel,

7 nor are all the children Abraham's true descendants; rather |through Isaac will your descendants be counted.|

8 This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.

9 For this is what the promise declared: |About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son.|

10 Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac--

11 even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling)--

12 it was said to her, |The older will serve the younger,|

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

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!

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.|

16 So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.

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

18 So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.

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

20 But who indeed are you--a mere human being--to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, |Why have you made me like this?|

21 Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?