1 I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" in|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547" and|strong="G4151" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" telling|strong="G3004" you|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" truth|strong="G0225". I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" not|strong="G3756" lying|strong="G5574". And|strong="G4151" my|strong="G1722" conscience|strong="G4893", ruled by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Holy|strong="G0040" Spirit|strong="G4151", agrees that|strong="G3004" what|strong="G3588" I|strong="G1473" say|strong="G3004" now|strong="G1722" is|strong="G3588" true|strong="G0225".
2 I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1510" great|strong="G3173" sorrow|strong="G3077" and|strong="G2532" always feel much|strong="G3173" sadness|strong="G3077"
3 for|strong="G1063" my|strong="G2596" own|strong="G0846" people|strong="G0846". They|strong="G0846" are|strong="G1510" my|strong="G2596" brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G0080" sisters, my|strong="G2596" earthly|strong="G4561" family. I|strong="G1473" wish|strong="G2172" I|strong="G1473" could help them|strong="G0846". I|strong="G1473" would|strong="G5547" even|strong="G1063" have|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" curse on|strong="G0575" me|strong="G1473" and|strong="G0080" cut myself|strong="G0846" off|strong="G2596" from|strong="G0575" Christ|strong="G5547" if that|strong="G0846" would|strong="G5547" help them|strong="G0846".
4 They|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1510" of|strong="G1391" Israel, God’s chosen children. They|strong="G3739" have|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" glory|strong="G1391" of|strong="G1391" God and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" agreements he|strong="G2532" made between|strong="G2532" himself and|strong="G2532" his|strong="G3739" people|strong="G1510". God gave them|strong="G3739" the|strong="G3588" Law|strong="G3548" of|strong="G1391" Moses, the|strong="G3588" Temple worship|strong="G2999", and|strong="G2532" his|strong="G3739" promises|strong="G1860".
5 They|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" descendants of|strong="G1537" our|strong="G2316" great|strong="G3956" fathers|strong="G3962", and|strong="G2532" they|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" earthly|strong="G4561" family of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3956" Messiah|strong="G5547", who|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" God|strong="G2316" over|strong="G1909" all|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956". Praise him|strong="G3739" forever|strong="G0165"! Amen|strong="G0281".
6 I|strong="G3778" don’t|strong="G3756" mean|strong="G3056" that|strong="G3754" God|strong="G2316" failed|strong="G3756" to|strong="G3778" keep his|strong="G3956" promise to|strong="G3778" the|strong="G3956" Jewish people|strong="G3956". But|strong="G1161" only|strong="G3756" some|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3956" people|strong="G3956" of|strong="G1537" Israel|strong="G2474" are|strong="G3956" really God’s|strong="G2316" people|strong="G3956".
7 And|strong="G3956" only|strong="G0235" some of|strong="G5043" Abraham’s|strong="G0011" descendants|strong="G4690" are|strong="G1510" true children|strong="G5043" of|strong="G5043" Abraham|strong="G0011". This|strong="G3748" is|strong="G1510" what|strong="G0235" God said to|strong="G1722" Abraham|strong="G0011": “Your|strong="G3956" true descendants|strong="G4690" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" those|strong="G1722" who|strong="G3748" come|strong="G1510" through|strong="G1722" Isaac|strong="G2464".”
8 This|strong="G3778" means|strong="G1510" that|strong="G3778" not|strong="G3756" all|strong="G3588" of|strong="G2316" Abraham’s descendants|strong="G4690" are|strong="G1510" God’s|strong="G2316" true children|strong="G5043". Abraham’s true children|strong="G5043" are|strong="G1510" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" become God’s|strong="G2316" children|strong="G5043" because|strong="G1510" of|strong="G2316" the|strong="G3588" promise|strong="G1860" he|strong="G3778" made to|strong="G1519" Abraham.
9 Here|strong="G1510" is|strong="G1510" what|strong="G3588" God said|strong="G3056" in|strong="G2596" that|strong="G3778" promise|strong="G1860": “About|strong="G2596" this|strong="G3778" time|strong="G2540" next|strong="G2064" year I|strong="G2532" will|strong="G1510" come|strong="G2064" back, and|strong="G2532" Sarah|strong="G4564" will|strong="G1510" have|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" son|strong="G5207".”
10 And|strong="G2532" that|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" all|strong="G3588". Rebecca also|strong="G2532" had|strong="G2192" sons, and|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" had|strong="G2192" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G2532" father|strong="G3962". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" our|strong="G2532" father|strong="G3962" Isaac|strong="G2464".
13 As|strong="G2531" the|strong="G3588" Scriptures say, “I|strong="G1161" loved|strong="G0025" Jacob|strong="G2384", but|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1161" hated|strong="G3404" Esau|strong="G2269".”
14 So|strong="G3767" what|strong="G5101" does|strong="G5101" this|strong="G3588" mean|strong="G3004"? That|strong="G3004" God|strong="G2316" is|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3361" fair? We|strong="G3767" cannot|strong="G3361" say|strong="G3004" that|strong="G3004".
15 God|strong="G3004" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" Moses|strong="G3475", “I|strong="G3739" will|strong="G3739" show|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1653" to|strong="G3004" anyone|strong="G3739" I|strong="G3739" want to|strong="G3004" show|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1653" to|strong="G3004". I|strong="G3739" will|strong="G3739" show|strong="G1653" pity to|strong="G3004" anyone|strong="G3739" I|strong="G3739" choose.”
16 So|strong="G3767" God|strong="G2316" will|strong="G2316" choose anyone he|strong="G3767" decides to|strong="G2309" show|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1653" to|strong="G2309", and|strong="G2316" his|strong="G3761" choice does|strong="G3761" not|strong="G3756" depend on|strong="G1653" what|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588" want|strong="G2309" or|strong="G3761" try to|strong="G2309" do|strong="G2309".
17 In|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" Scriptures|strong="G1124" God|strong="G0846" says|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" Pharaoh|strong="G5328": “I|strong="G1473" made|strong="G3004" you|strong="G4771" king so|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G4771" could do|strong="G3004" this|strong="G3778" for|strong="G1063" me|strong="G3004". I|strong="G1473" wanted to|strong="G1519" show|strong="G1731" my|strong="G3956" power|strong="G1411" through|strong="G1722" you|strong="G4771". I|strong="G1473" wanted my|strong="G3956" name|strong="G3686" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G2532" announced throughout|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" world|strong="G1093".”
18 So|strong="G3767" God|strong="G1653" shows|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1653" to|strong="G2309" those|strong="G1161" he|strong="G3739" wants|strong="G2309" to|strong="G2309" show|strong="G1653" mercy|strong="G1653" to|strong="G2309" and|strong="G1161" makes stubborn those|strong="G1161" he|strong="G3739" wants|strong="G2309" to|strong="G2309" make stubborn.
19 So|strong="G3767" one|strong="G3588" of|strong="G3004" you|strong="G3004" will|strong="G5101" ask|strong="G3004" me|strong="G3004", “If God|strong="G0846" controls what|strong="G5101" we|strong="G3767" do|strong="G3004", why|strong="G5101" does|strong="G5101" he|strong="G0846" blame us|strong="G3004" for|strong="G1063" our|strong="G0436" sins?”
20 Don’t|strong="G3361" ask|strong="G3004" that|strong="G3004". You|strong="G4771" are|strong="G1510" only|strong="G3779" human|strong="G0444" and|strong="G2316" have|strong="G1510" no|strong="G3361" right|strong="G3779" to|strong="G3004" question God|strong="G2316". A|strong="G1510" clay jar does|strong="G4160" not|strong="G3361" question the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" made|strong="G4160" it|strong="G4160". It|strong="G4160" does|strong="G4160" not|strong="G3361" say|strong="G3004", “Why|strong="G5101" did|strong="G4160" you|strong="G4771" make|strong="G4160" me|strong="G3004" like|strong="G3779" this|strong="G3779"?”
21 The|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3739" who|strong="G3739" makes|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3588" jar|strong="G4632" can|strong="G4160" make|strong="G4160" anything he|strong="G0846" wants. He|strong="G0846" uses the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G0846" clay|strong="G4081" to|strong="G1519" make|strong="G4160" different things|strong="G3739". He|strong="G0846" might make|strong="G4160" one|strong="G3739" thing|strong="G0846" for|strong="G1519" special purposes and|strong="G1161" another for|strong="G1519" daily use|strong="G2192".
22 It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G2316" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G0846" way|strong="G1722" with|strong="G1722" what|strong="G3588" God|strong="G2316" has|strong="G2316" done. He|strong="G2532" wanted|strong="G2309" to|strong="G1519" show|strong="G1731" his|strong="G0846" anger|strong="G3709" and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G1519" let people|strong="G0846" see his|strong="G0846" power|strong="G1415". But|strong="G1161" he|strong="G2532" patiently|strong="G3115" endured|strong="G5342" those|strong="G3588" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" angry with|strong="G1722"—people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G3588" ready to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G2532" destroyed.
23 He|strong="G2532" waited with|strong="G1909" patience so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" could make|strong="G1107" known|strong="G1107" the|strong="G3588" riches|strong="G4149" of|strong="G1391" his|strong="G0846" glory|strong="G1391" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" he|strong="G2532" has|strong="G3739" chosen to|strong="G1519" receive his|strong="G0846" mercy|strong="G1656". God|strong="G0846" has|strong="G3739" already prepared|strong="G4282" them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" share his|strong="G0846" glory|strong="G1391".
24 We|strong="G2249" are|strong="G3739" those|strong="G3739" people|strong="G1484", the|strong="G2532" ones God chose not|strong="G3756" only|strong="G3440" from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" Jews|strong="G2453" but|strong="G0235" also|strong="G2532" from|strong="G1537" those|strong="G3739" who|strong="G3739" are|strong="G3739" not|strong="G3756" Jews|strong="G2453".
25 As|strong="G5613" the|strong="G3588" Scriptures say|strong="G3004" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" book of|strong="G1722" Hosea|strong="G5617",
26 And|strong="G2532",
27 And|strong="G1161" Isaiah|strong="G2268" cries|strong="G2896" out|strong="G2896" about|strong="G5613" Israel|strong="G2474":
28 Yes|strong="G1063", the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" will|strong="G2962" quickly|strong="G4932" finish judging the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3588" on|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" earth|strong="G1093".” Isaiah 10:22-23
29 It|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2962" just|strong="G2531" as|strong="G5613" Isaiah|strong="G2268" said|strong="G1096":
30 So|strong="G3767" what|strong="G5101" does|strong="G5101" all|strong="G3588" this|strong="G3588" mean|strong="G3004"? It|strong="G1161" means|strong="G3004" that|strong="G3754" people|strong="G1484" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" Jews were|strong="G3588" made|strong="G3004" right|strong="G1343" with|strong="G1537" God|strong="G3004" because|strong="G3754" of|strong="G1537" their|strong="G3754" faith|strong="G4102", even|strong="G1161" though|strong="G1161" they|strong="G3767" were|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" trying to|strong="G3004" make|strong="G3361" themselves right|strong="G1343".
31 And|strong="G1161" the|strong="G1161" people of|strong="G3551" Israel|strong="G2474", who|strong="G3756" tried to|strong="G1519" make|strong="G3756" themselves|strong="G1519" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G1519" God by|strong="G1519" following the|strong="G1161" law|strong="G3551", did|strong="G5348" not|strong="G3756" succeed.
32 They|strong="G3754" failed|strong="G3756" because|strong="G3754" they|strong="G3754" tried to|strong="G5101" make|strong="G3756" themselves|strong="G5613" right by|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3588" they|strong="G3754" did|strong="G5101". They|strong="G3754" did|strong="G5101" not|strong="G3756" trust in|strong="G4102" God to|strong="G5101" make|strong="G3756" them|strong="G1223" right. They|strong="G3754" fell over|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" stone|strong="G3037" that|strong="G3754" makes people|strong="G3588" fall.
33 The|strong="G3588" Scriptures talk about|strong="G1909" that|strong="G4100" stone|strong="G3037":