1 I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" speaking|strong="G3004" the|strong="G1722" truth as|strong="G1722" one|strong="G3588" in|strong="G1722" union with|strong="G1722" Christ|strong="G5547"; it|strong="G3004" is|strong="G3588" no|strong="G3756" lie|strong="G5574"; and|strong="G4151" my|strong="G1722" conscience|strong="G4893", enlightened by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" Holy|strong="G4151" Spirit|strong="G4151",
2 bears me|strong="G1473" out|strong="G2532" when|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" say|strong="G1473" that|strong="G3754" there|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G2532" great|strong="G3173" weight of|strong="G2532" sorrow|strong="G3077" on|strong="G3588" me|strong="G1473" and|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3754" my|strong="G1473" heart|strong="G2588" is|strong="G1510" never free from|strong="G2532" pain|strong="G3077".
3 I|strong="G1473" could|strong="G3588" wish|strong="G2172" that|strong="G3588" I|strong="G1473" were|strong="G1510" myself|strong="G1473" accursed and|strong="G4561" severed from|strong="G2596" the|strong="G2596" Christ|strong="G5547", for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G2596" sake|strong="G5228" of|strong="G2596" my|strong="G1473" people|strong="G4561" – my|strong="G1473" own flesh|strong="G4561" and|strong="G4561" blood.
4 For|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" Israelites|strong="G2475", and|strong="G2532" theirs are|strong="G1510" the|strong="G2532" adoption|strong="G5206" as|strong="G2532" children|strong="G5206", the|strong="G2532" visible presence, the|strong="G2532" covenants|strong="G1242", the|strong="G2532" revealed Law|strong="G3548", the|strong="G2532" Temple worship|strong="G2999", and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" promises|strong="G1860".
5 They|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" descended from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" patriarchs, and|strong="G2532", as|strong="G1519" far|strong="G3588" as|strong="G1519" his|strong="G3956" human|strong="G4561" nature was|strong="G1510" concerned, from|strong="G1537" them|strong="G3588" came|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" Christ|strong="G5547" – he|strong="G2532" who|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" supreme over|strong="G1909" all|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956", God|strong="G2316" for|strong="G1519" ever|strong="G1519" blessed|strong="G2128". Amen.
6 Not|strong="G3756" that|strong="G3754" God|strong="G2316"’s Word|strong="G3056" has|strong="G2316" failed|strong="G3756". For|strong="G1063" it|strong="G3754" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" all|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" descended from|strong="G1537" Israel|strong="G2474" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" true|strong="G3588" Israelites;
7 nor|strong="G3761", because|strong="G3754" they|strong="G3754" are|strong="G1510" Abraham’s descendants|strong="G4690", are|strong="G1510" they|strong="G3754" all|strong="G3956" his|strong="G3956" children|strong="G5043"; but|strong="G3761" – “It|strong="G3754" is|strong="G1510" Isaac|strong="G2464"’s children|strong="G5043" who|strong="G3748" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" called|strong="G2564" your|strong="G3956" descendants|strong="G4690".”
8 This|strong="G3778" means|strong="G1510" that|strong="G3588" it|strong="G3778" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" the|strong="G1519" children|strong="G5043" born in|strong="G1519" the|strong="G1519" course of|strong="G2316" nature who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" God|strong="G2316"’s children|strong="G5043", but|strong="G2316" it|strong="G3778" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G1519" children|strong="G5043" born in|strong="G1519" fulfilment of|strong="G2316" the|strong="G1519" promise|strong="G1860" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G1510" regarded|strong="G3049" as|strong="G1519" Abraham’s descendants|strong="G4690".
9 For|strong="G1063" these|strong="G3778" words|strong="G3056" are|strong="G1510" the|strong="G2532" words|strong="G3056" of|strong="G5207" a|strong="G2532" promise|strong="G1860" – “About|strong="G2596" this|strong="G3778" time|strong="G2540" I|strong="G2532" will|strong="G1510" come|strong="G2064", and|strong="G2532" Sarah|strong="G4564" will|strong="G1510" have|strong="G2532" a|strong="G2532" son|strong="G5207".”
10 Nor|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" that|strong="G3588" all|strong="G2532". There|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" also|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" case|strong="G3588" of|strong="G1537" Rebecca|strong="G4479", when|strong="G1161" she|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" about|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2532" bear|strong="G2532" children to|strong="G2532" our|strong="G2532" ancestor|strong="G3962" Isaac|strong="G2464".
11 For|strong="G1063" in|strong="G2596" order|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" the|strong="G1537" purpose|strong="G4286" of|strong="G1537" God|strong="G2316", working through|strong="G2596" selection, might|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3756" fail|strong="G3756" – a|strong="G2228" selection depending, not|strong="G3756" on|strong="G1537" obedience, but|strong="G1063" on|strong="G1537" his|strong="G2596" call|strong="G2564" – Rebecca was|strong="G3588" told, before|strong="G2596" her|strong="G2596" children|strong="G1080" were|strong="G3588" born|strong="G1080" and|strong="G2316" before|strong="G2596" they|strong="G3588" had|strong="G2316" done|strong="G4238" anything|strong="G5100" either|strong="G2228" right|strong="G3756" or|strong="G2228" wrong,
12 that|strong="G3754" the|strong="G3588" elder would be|strong="G3588" a|strong="G2041" servant|strong="G3588" to|strong="G1398" the|strong="G3588" younger|strong="G1640".
13 The|strong="G1161" words of|strong="G3588" scripture|strong="G1125" are|strong="G3588" – “I|strong="G1161" loved Jacob|strong="G2384", but|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1161" hated|strong="G3404" Esau|strong="G2269".”
14 What|strong="G5101" are|strong="G3588" we|strong="G3767" to|strong="G3004" say|strong="G3004", then|strong="G3767"? Is|strong="G3588" God|strong="G2316" guilty|strong="G1096" of|strong="G2316" injustice? Heaven forbid|strong="G1096"!
15 For|strong="G1063" his|strong="G2532" words|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" Moses|strong="G3475" are|strong="G3588" – “I|strong="G3739" will|strong="G2532" take|strong="G2532" pity on|strong="G1653" whom|strong="G3739" I|strong="G3739" take|strong="G2532" pity, and|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" merciful to|strong="G2532" whom|strong="G3739" I|strong="G3739" am|strong="G2532" merciful.”
16 So|strong="G3767", then|strong="G3767", all|strong="G3588" depends, not|strong="G3756" on|strong="G1653" human wishes|strong="G2309" or|strong="G3761" human efforts, but|strong="G3767" on|strong="G1653" God|strong="G2316"’s mercy|strong="G1653".
17 In|strong="G1722" scripture|strong="G1124", again|strong="G1519", it|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" Pharaoh|strong="G5328" – “It|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" for|strong="G1063" this|strong="G3778" purpose that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G1473" raised|strong="G1825" you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G1722" throne, to|strong="G1519" show|strong="G1731" my|strong="G1722" power|strong="G1411" by|strong="G1722" my|strong="G1722" dealings with|strong="G1722" you|strong="G4771", and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G1519" make|strong="G1519" my|strong="G1722" name|strong="G3686" known throughout|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" world|strong="G1093".”
18 So|strong="G3767", then|strong="G3767", where|strong="G3739" God|strong="G1653" wills|strong="G2309", he|strong="G1161" takes pity, and|strong="G1161" where|strong="G3739" he|strong="G1161" wills|strong="G2309", he|strong="G1161" hardens|strong="G4645" the|strong="G1161" heart.
19 Perhaps you|strong="G3004" will|strong="G5101" say|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" me|strong="G1473" – “How|strong="G5101" can|strong="G3004" anyone still|strong="G2089" be|strong="G2089" blamed? For|strong="G1063" who|strong="G5101" withstands his|strong="G3588" purpose|strong="G5101"?”
20 I|strong="G1473" might|strong="G2316" rather|strong="G3304" ask|strong="G3004" “Who|strong="G5101" are|strong="G1510" you|strong="G4771" who|strong="G5101" are|strong="G1510" arguing with|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316"?” Does|strong="G4160" a|strong="G1510" thing|strong="G5101" which|strong="G3588" a|strong="G1510" person|strong="G5101" has|strong="G2316" moulded say|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" person|strong="G5101" who|strong="G5101" has|strong="G2316" moulded it|strong="G4160" “Why|strong="G5101" did|strong="G4160" you|strong="G4771" make|strong="G4160" me|strong="G1473" like|strong="G3779" this|strong="G3588"?”
21 Has|strong="G2192" not|strong="G3756" the|strong="G1519" potter|strong="G2763" absolute power|strong="G1849" over|strong="G1537" their|strong="G1519" clay|strong="G4081", so|strong="G1161" that|strong="G3739" out|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G1519" same|strong="G3739" lump|strong="G5445" they|strong="G1161" make|strong="G4160" one|strong="G3739" thing|strong="G3739" for|strong="G1519" better, and|strong="G1161" another|strong="G3739" for|strong="G1519" common, use|strong="G2192"?
22 And|strong="G2532" what|strong="G3588" if|strong="G1487" God|strong="G2316", intending|strong="G2309" to|strong="G1519" reveal his|strong="G1519" displeasure and|strong="G2532" make|strong="G1107" his|strong="G1519" power|strong="G1415" known|strong="G1107", bore most|strong="G4183" patiently|strong="G3115" with|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" objects of|strong="G2316" his|strong="G1519" displeasure, though|strong="G1487" they|strong="G2532" were|strong="G3588" fit only|strong="G1487" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G2532" destroyed,
23 so|strong="G2443" as|strong="G1519" to|strong="G1519" make|strong="G1107" known|strong="G1107" his|strong="G1519" surpassing glory|strong="G1391" in|strong="G1519" dealing with|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" objects of|strong="G2532" his|strong="G1519" mercy|strong="G1656", whom|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" prepared|strong="G4282" beforehand|strong="G4282" for|strong="G1519" glory|strong="G1391",
24 and|strong="G2532" whom|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" called|strong="G2564" – even|strong="G2532" us|strong="G2249" – not|strong="G3756" only|strong="G3440" from|strong="G1537" among|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" Jews|strong="G2453" but|strong="G2532" from|strong="G1537" among|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" Gentiles|strong="G1484" also|strong="G2532"!
25 This|strong="G3588", indeed|strong="G2532", is|strong="G3588" what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G2532" says|strong="G3004" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" book|strong="G3588" of|strong="G2532" Hosea|strong="G5617" – “Those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" my|strong="G1722" people|strong="G2992", I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G2532" call|strong="G2564" my|strong="G1722" people|strong="G2992", and|strong="G2532" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G3588" unloved I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G2532" love.
26 And|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" place|strong="G5117" where|strong="G3757" it|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" said|strong="G2046" to|strong="G2532" them|strong="G3588" – ‘You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" my|strong="G1722" people|strong="G2992"’, they|strong="G2532" will|strong="G2316" be|strong="G1510" called|strong="G2564" sons|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" the|strong="G1722" living|strong="G2198" God|strong="G2316".”
27 And|strong="G1161" Isaiah|strong="G2268" cries|strong="G2896" aloud over|strong="G5228" Israel|strong="G2474" – “Though|strong="G5613" the|strong="G1161" sons|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" Israel|strong="G2474" are|strong="G1510" like|strong="G5613" the|strong="G1161" sand of|strong="G5207" the|strong="G1161" sea|strong="G2281" in|strong="G1161" number, only a|strong="G5613" remnant|strong="G3005" of|strong="G5207" them|strong="G3588" will|strong="G1510" escape!
28 For|strong="G1063" the|strong="G2532" Lord|strong="G2962" will|strong="G2532" execute|strong="G4160" his|strong="G1909" sentence on|strong="G1909" the|strong="G2532" world|strong="G1093", fully and|strong="G2532" without|strong="G2532" delay.”
29 It|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1096" as|strong="G5613" Isaiah|strong="G2268" foretold – “Had|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3361" the|strong="G2532" Lord|strong="G2962" of|strong="G2532" Hosts spared some|strong="G5613" few of|strong="G2532" our|strong="G2532" people|strong="G3361" to|strong="G2532" us|strong="G2249", we|strong="G2249" should|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" become|strong="G1096" like|strong="G5613" Sodom|strong="G4670" and|strong="G2532" been|strong="G1096" made|strong="G1096" to|strong="G2532" resemble Gomorrah|strong="G1116".”
30 What|strong="G5101" are|strong="G3588" we|strong="G3754" to|strong="G3004" say|strong="G3004", then|strong="G3767"? Why|strong="G5101", that|strong="G3754" Gentiles|strong="G1484", who|strong="G5101" were|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" in|strong="G4102" search of|strong="G1537" righteousness|strong="G1343", secured it|strong="G3754" – a|strong="G1161" righteousness|strong="G1343" which|strong="G3588" was|strong="G3588" the|strong="G1537" result|strong="G1537" of|strong="G1537" faith|strong="G4102";
31 while|strong="G1161" Israel|strong="G2474", which|strong="G1343" was|strong="G1161" in|strong="G1519" search of|strong="G3551" a|strong="G1519" Law|strong="G3551" which|strong="G1343" would ensure righteousness|strong="G1343", failed|strong="G3756" to|strong="G1519" discover one|strong="G1519".
32 And|strong="G4102" why|strong="G5101"? Because|strong="G3754" they|strong="G3588" looked to|strong="G3756" obedience, and|strong="G4102" not|strong="G3756" to|strong="G3756" faith|strong="G4102", to|strong="G3756" secure it|strong="G3754". They|strong="G3588" stumbled|strong="G4350" over|strong="G1537" the|strong="G1537" stumbling-block.
33 As|strong="G2531" scripture|strong="G1125" says – “See|strong="G3708", I|strong="G2532" place|strong="G5087" a|strong="G2532" stumbling-block in|strong="G1722" Zion|strong="G4622" – a|strong="G2532" rock|strong="G4073" which|strong="G3588" will|strong="G2532" prove a|strong="G2532" hindrance; and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" who|strong="G3588" believes|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1722" him|strong="G3588" will|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" no|strong="G3756" cause|strong="G3588" for|strong="G1909" shame|strong="G2617".”