Israel's Rejection
1 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit,
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
1 (A)I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
1 I speak the truth in Christ(A)—I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit(a)—
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 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
2 that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart.
2 I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart,
3 For [if it were possible] I would wish that I myself were accursed, [separated, banished] from Christ for the sake [of the salvation] of my brothers, my natural kinsmen,(A)
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
3 For (B)I could (a)wish that I myself were (C)accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen (D)according to the flesh,
3 For I could almost wish(B) to be cursed(C) and cut off(b) from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my own flesh and blood.
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 Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, the glory ((a)Shekinah), the [special] covenants [with Abraham, Moses, and David], the giving of the Law, the [system of temple] worship, and the [original] promises.(B)
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
4 who are (E)Israelites, to whom belongs (F)the adoption as sons, and (G)the glory and (H)the covenants and (I)the giving of the Law and (J)the temple service and (K)the promises,
4 They are Israelites,(D) and to them belong the adoption,(E) the glory,(F) the covenants,(G) the giving of the law,(H) the temple service,(I) and the promises.(J)
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 them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to His natural descent, came the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), He who is exalted and supreme over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
5 whose are (L)the fathers, and (M)from whom is (b)the Christ according to the flesh, (N)who is over all, (O)God (P)blessed (c)forever. Amen.
5 The ancestors are theirs,(K) and from them, by physical descent,(c) came the Messiah,(L) who is God(M) over all,(N) praised forever.(d)(O) Amen.
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.
God's Gracious Election Of Israel
6 However, it is not as though God’s word has failed [coming to nothing]. For not all who are descended from Israel (Jacob) are [the true] Israel;
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
6 But it is not as though (Q)the word of God has failed. (R)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed.(P) For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(Q)
6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel,
7 and they are not all the children of Abraham because they are his descendants [by blood], but [the promise was]: “Your descendants will be named through Isaac” [though Abraham had other sons].(C)
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
7 nor are they all children (S)because they are Abraham’s (d)descendants, but: “(e)(T)through Isaac your (f)descendants will be named.”
7 Neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants.(e)(R) On the contrary, your offspring will be traced(f) through Isaac.(S)(g)
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 the children of the body [Abraham’s natural descendants] who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are counted as [Abraham’s true] descendants.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are (U)children of God, but the (V)children of the promise are regarded as (g)descendants.
8 That is, it is not the children by physical descent(h) who are God’s children,(T) but the children of the promise(U) are considered to be the offspring.
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 what the promise said: “About this time [next year] I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.”(D)
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
9 For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.(V)(i)
9 For this is the language of the promise: "At this time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
10 And not only that, but this too: Rebekah conceived twin sons by one man [under the same circumstances], by our father Isaac;
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
10 (X)And not only this, but there was (Y)Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;
10 And not only that,(W) but also Rebekah received a promise when she became pregnant(j)(X) by one man, our ancestor Isaac.
10 Not only that, but Rebecca became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac.
11 and though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything either good or bad, so that God’s purpose [His choice, His election] would stand, not because of works [done by either child], but because of [the plan of] Him who calls them,
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that (Z)God’s purpose according to His choice would (h)stand, not (i)because of works but (j)because of Him who calls,
11 For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—(Y)
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
God's Sovereign Choice To Show Mercy
15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I have compassion.”(G)
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
15 For He says to Moses, “(AF)I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
15 For He tells Moses:I will show mercyto whom I will show mercy,and I will have compassionon whom I will have compassion.(AE)(m)
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 So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses—it is His sovereign gift].
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who (AG)runs, but on (AH)God who has mercy.
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 to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very purpose, to display My power in [dealing with] you, and so that My name would be proclaimed in all the earth.”(H)
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “(AI)For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed (k)throughout the whole earth.”
17 For the Scripture tells Pharaoh:I raised you up for this reasonso that I may display My power in youand that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.(AH)(o)
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."
God's Anger And Mercy
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?”
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
19 You will say to me,(AJ) therefore, “Why then does He still find fault?(AK) For who can resist His will?”(AL)
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, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”(I)
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
20 On the contrary, who are you, (AN)O man, who (AO)answers back to God? (AP)The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?
20 But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God?(AM) Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”(AN)
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 Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump [of clay] one object for honorable use [something beautiful or distinctive] and another for common use [something ordinary or menial]?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel (l)for honorable use and another (m)for common use?
21 Or has the potter no right over the clay,(AO) to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?
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.
22 What if God, although willing to show His [terrible] wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of His wrath [which are] prepared for destruction?(J)
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
22 (n)What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much (AQ)patience vessels of wrath (AR)prepared for destruction?
22 And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience(AP) objects of wrath ready for destruction?(AQ)
22 Now if God wants to demonstrate his wrath and reveal his power, can't he be extremely patient with the objects of his wrath that are made for destruction?
23 And what if He has done so to make known the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory,
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
23 And He did so to make known (AS)the riches of His glory upon (AT)vessels of mercy, which He (AU)prepared beforehand for glory,
23 And what if He did this to make known the riches of His glory(AR) on objects of mercy(AS) that He prepared beforehand for glory(AT)—
23 Can't he also reveal his glorious riches to the objects of his mercy that he has prepared ahead of time for glory
God Chose People Who Are Not Jewish
25 Just as He says in [the writings of the prophet] Hosea:“I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’And [I will call] her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’”(K)
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
25 As He says also in Hosea,“(AX)I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’”
25 As He also says in Hosea:I will call Not My People, My People,and she who is Unloved, Beloved.(AW)(p)
25 As the Scripture says in Hosea, "Those who are not my people I will call my people, and the one who was not loved I will call my loved one.
26 “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’There they shall be called sons of the living God.”(L)
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
26 “(AY)And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’There they shall be called sons of (AZ)the living God.”
26 And it will be in the place where they were told,you are not My people,there they will be called sons of the living God.(AX)(q)
26 In the very place where it was told them, "You are not my people,' they will be called children of the living God."
27 And Isaiah calls out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is only the remnant [a small believing minority] that will be saved [from God’s judgment];
27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “(BA)Though the number of the sons of Israel be (BB)like the sand of the sea, it is (BC)the remnant that will be saved;
27 But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:Though the number of Israel’s sonsis like the sand of the sea,(AY)only the remnant will be saved;(AZ)
27 Isaiah also calls out concerning Israel, "Although the descendants of Israel are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore, only a few will be saved.
28 For the Lord will execute His word upon the earth [He will conclude His dealings with mankind] completely and without delay.”(M)
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
28 For the Lord will carry out his plan decisively, bringing it to completion on the earth."
29 It is as Isaiah foretold,“If the Lord of Hosts had not left us seed [future generations from which a believing remnant of Israelites came],We would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah [totally rejected and destroyed]!”(N)
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
29 And just as Isaiah foretold,“(BE)Unless (BF)the Lord of (q)Sabaoth had left to us a (r)posterity,(BG)We would have become like Sodom, and would have (s)resembled Gomorrah.”
29 And just as Isaiah predicted:If the Lord of Hosts(t) had not left us offspring,(BB)we would have become like Sodom,and we would have been made like Gomorrah.(BC)(u)
29 It is just as Isaiah predicted: "If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies had not left us some descendants, we would have become like Sodom and would have been compared to Gomorrah."
Israel's Present State
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness [who did not seek salvation and a right relationship with God, nevertheless] obtained righteousness, that is, the righteousness which is produced by faith;
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
30 (BH)What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even (BI)the righteousness which is (t)by faith;
30 What should we say then?(BD) Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith.(BE)
30 What can we say, then? Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, have attained righteousness, a righteousness that comes through faith.
31 whereas Israel, [though always] pursuing the law of righteousness, did not succeed in fulfilling the law.(O)
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
31 But Israel, pursuing the law for righteousness,(BF) has not achieved the righteousness of the law.(v)(BG)
31 But Israel, who pursued righteousness based on the Law, did not achieve the Law.
32 And why not? Because it was not by faith [that they pursued it], but as though it were by works [relying on the merit of their works instead of their faith]. They stumbled over the stumbling Stone [Jesus Christ].(P)
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
32 Why? Because they did not pursue it (u)by faith, but as though it were (v)by works. They stumbled over (BL)the stumbling stone,
32 Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works.(w) They stumbled over the stumbling stone.(BH)
32 Why not? Because they did not pursue it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on achievements. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble.
33 As it is written and forever remains written,“Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense;And he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].”(Q)
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
33 just as it is written,“(BM)Behold, I lay in Zion (BN)a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,(BO)And he who believes in Him (BP)will not be (w)disappointed.”
33 As it is written:Look! I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble overand a rock to trip over,yet the one who believes on Him(BI)will not be put to shame.(BJ)(x)
33 As it is written, "Look! I am placing a stone in Zion over which people will stumble a large rock that will make them fall and the one who believes in him will never be ashamed."