Dual Panel1I am telling<3004> the truth<225> in Christ<5547>, I am not lying<5574>, my conscience<4893> testifies<4828> with me in the Holy<40> Spirit<4151>,
2that I have great<3173> sorrow<3077> and unceasing<88> grief<3601> in my heart<2588>.
3For I could wish<2172> that I myself<846> were accursed<331>, separated from Christ<5547> for the sake<5228> of my brethren<80>, my kinsmen<4773> according<2596> to the flesh<4561>,
4who<3748> are Israelites<2475>, to whom<3739> belongs the adoption<5206> as sons<5206>, and the glory<1391> and the covenants<1242> and the giving<3548> of the Law<3548> and the temple service<2999> and the promises<1860>,
5whose<3739> are the fathers<3962>, and from whom<3739> is the Christ<5547> according<2596> to the flesh<4561>, who is over<1909> all<3956>, God<2316> blessed<2128> forever<165>. Amen<281>.
6But it is not as though<3754> the word<3056> of God<2316> has failed<1601>. For they are not all<3956> Israel<2274> who<3588> are descended from Israel<2274>;
7nor<3761> are they all<3956> children<5043> because<3754> they are Abraham's<11> descendants<4690>, but: "THROUGH<1722> ISAAC<2464> YOUR DESCENDANTS<4690> WILL BE NAMED<2564>."
8That is, it is not the children<5043> of the flesh<4561> who<3778> are children<5043> of God<2316>, but the children<5043> of the promise<1860> are regarded<3049> as descendants<4690>.
9For this<3778> is the word<3056> of promise<1860>: "AT THIS<3778> TIME<2540> I WILL COME<2064>, AND SARAH<4564> SHALL HAVE<1510> A SON<5207>."
10And not only<3440> this, but there was Rebekah<4479> also<2532>, when she had conceived<2845><2192> twins by one<1520> man<1520>, our father<3962> Isaac<2464>;
11for though the twins were not yet<3380> born<1080> and had not done<4238> anything<5100> good<18> or<2228> bad<5337>, so<2443> that God's<2316> purpose<4286> according<2596> to His choice<1589> would stand<3306>, not because<1537> of works<2041> but because<1537> of Him who calls<2564>,
12it was said<3004> to her, "THE OLDER<3173> WILL SERVE<1398> THE YOUNGER<1640>."
13Just<2509> as it is written<1125>, "JACOB<2384> I LOVED<25>, BUT ESAU<2269> I HATED<3404>."
14What<5101> shall we say<3004> then<3767>? There is no<3361> injustice<93> with God<2316>, is there? May it never<3361> be!
15For He says<3004> to Moses<3475>, "I WILL HAVE<1653> MERCY<1653> ON WHOM<3739> I HAVE<1653> MERCY<1653>, AND I WILL HAVE<3627> COMPASSION<3627> ON WHOM<3739> I HAVE<3627> COMPASSION<3627>."
16So<686> then<686> it does not depend on the man who wills<2309> or<3761> the man who runs<5143>, but on God<2316> who has<1653> mercy<1653>.
17For the Scripture<1124> says<3004> to Pharaoh<5328>, "FOR THIS<3778> VERY<846> PURPOSE I RAISED<1825> YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE<1731> MY POWER<1411> IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME<3686> MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED<1229> THROUGHOUT<1722> THE WHOLE<3956> EARTH<1093>."
18So<686> then<686> He has<1653> mercy<1653> on whom<3739> He desires<2309>, and He hardens<4645> whom<3739> He desires<2309>.
19You will say<3004> to me then<3767>, "Why<5101> does He still<2089> find<3201> fault<3201>? For who<5101> resists<436> His will<1013>?"
20On the contrary<3304>, who<5101> are you, O<5599> man<444>, who answers<470> back<470> to God<2316>? The thing<4110> molded<4110> will not say<3004> to the molder<4111>, "Why<5101> did you make<4160> me like<3779> this<3779>," will it?
21Or<2228> does not the potter<2763> have<2192> a right<1849> over the clay<4081>, to make<4160> from the same<846> lump<5445> one<3739><3303> vessel<4632> for honorable<5092> use<5092> and another<3739><1161> for common<819> use<819>?
22What<1161> if<1487> God<2316>, although willing<2309> to demonstrate<1731> His wrath<3709> and to make<1107> His power<1415> known<1107>, endured<5342> with much<4183> patience<3115> vessels<4632> of wrath<3709> prepared<2675> for destruction<684>?
23And He did so to make<1107> known<1107> the riches<4149> of His glory<1391> upon vessels<4632> of mercy<1656>, which<3739> He prepared<4282> beforehand<4282> for glory<1391>,
24even us, whom<3739> He also<2532> called<2564>, not from among<1537> Jews<2453> only<3440>, but also<2532> from among<1537> Gentiles<1484>.
25As He says<3004> also<2532> in Hosea<5617>, "I WILL CALL<2564> THOSE<3588> WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE<2992>, 'MY PEOPLE<2992>,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED<25>, 'BELOVED<25>.'"
26"AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE<5117> WHERE<3757> IT WAS SAID<3004> TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE<2992>,' THERE<1563> THEY SHALL BE CALLED<2564> SONS<5207> OF THE LIVING<2198> GOD<2316>."
27Isaiah<2268> cries<2896> out concerning<5228> Israel<2474>, "THOUGH<1437> THE NUMBER<706> OF THE SONS<5207> OF ISRAEL<2274> BE LIKE<5613> THE SAND<285> OF THE SEA<2281>, IT IS THE REMNANT<5275> THAT WILL BE SAVED<4982>;
28FOR THE LORD<2962> WILL EXECUTE<4160> HIS WORD<3056> ON THE EARTH<1093>, THOROUGHLY<4931> AND QUICKLY<4932>."
29And just<2531> as Isaiah<2268> foretold<4275>, "UNLESS<1508> THE LORD<2962> OF SABAOTH<4519> HAD LEFT<1459> TO US A POSTERITY<4690>, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME<1096> LIKE<5613> SODOM<4670>, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED<3666> GOMORRAH<1116>."
30What<5101> shall we say<3004> then<3767>? That Gentiles<1484>, who did not pursue<1377> righteousness<1343>, attained<2638> righteousness<1343>, even<1161> the righteousness<1343> which is by faith<4102>;
31but Israel<2474>, pursuing<1377> a law<3551> of righteousness<1343>, did not arrive<5348> at that law<3551>.
32Why<1223><5101>? Because<3754> they did not pursue it by faith<4102>, but as though<5613> it were by works<2041>. They stumbled<4350> over<4350> the stumbling<4348> stone<3037>,
33just<2531> as it is written<1125>, "BEHOLD<2400>, I LAY<5087> IN ZION<4622> A STONE<3037> OF STUMBLING<4348> AND A ROCK<4073> OF OFFENSE<4625>, AND HE WHO BELIEVES<4100> IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED<2617>."