Paul’s Concern for the Jews 2 ULT that for me there is great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. BSB BSB: I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 ULT For I could wish myself to be accursed,{ separated} from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race according to the flesh; BSB BSB: For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,
5 ULT of whom{ are} the fathers, and from whom{ is} the Christ—(that{ is}, according to the flesh)— the one who{ is} over all, blessed God to eternity. Amen. BSB BSB: Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
God’s Sovereign Choice (Genesis 25:19–28; Malachi 1:1–5)
6 ULT But{ it is} not such a thing that the word of God has failed. For not all the ones from Israel, these{ are} Israel. BSB BSB: It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 ULT Neither that all the children are seed of Abraham. But,“In Isaac your seed will be called.” BSB BSB: Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
8 ULT That is, the children of the flesh, these{ are} not children of God. But the children of the promise are considered as seed. BSB BSB: So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.
9 ULT For this{ is} the word of promise:“At this time I will come, and a son will be to Sarah.” BSB BSB: For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 ULT Now, not only this, but Rebekah also having conceived from one{ man}, our father Isaac— BSB BSB: Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.
11 ULT for not yet having been born, nor indeed having done anything good or bad, so that the purpose of God according to election might endure, BSB BSB: Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
12 ULT not by works, but by the one calling— it was said to her,“The older will be enslaved to the younger.” BSB BSB: not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 ULT { It is} just as it is written:“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” BSB BSB: So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 ULT What then will we say?{ There is} no unrighteousness with God{, is there}? May it never be! BSB BSB: What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not!
15 ULT For he says to Moses,“I will have mercy{ on} whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion{ on} whomever I will have compassion.” BSB BSB: 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 ULT So then,{ it is} not of the one willing, nor of the one running, but of God, the one having mercy. BSB BSB: So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
17 ULT For the scripture says to Pharaoh,“For this very{ purpose} I raised you up: so that I might demonstrate my power in you and so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” BSB BSB: For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18 ULT So then, he has mercy on whom he wills, but whom he wills, he hardens. BSB BSB: Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
19 ULT You will say then to me,“Why then does he still find fault? For who has ever withstood his will?” BSB BSB: One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”
20 ULT O man, who indeed are you, the one answering against God? The one molded will not say to the one having molded{ it},“Why did you make me this way?” will it? BSB BSB: But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
21 ULT Or does the potter not have authority over the clay to make from the same lump not only what{ is} a vessel for honor, but also what{ is} for dishonor? BSB BSB: Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
22 ULT But{ what} if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction; BSB BSB: What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?
23 ULT and so that he might make known the wealth of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory— BSB BSB: What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory—
24 ULT even us whom he called, not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles? BSB BSB: including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?
26 ULT And it will be that in the place where it was said to them,‘You{ are} not my people,’ there they will be called‘sons of the living God.’” BSB BSB: and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
27 ULT But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,“Though the number of the sons of Israel might be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved, BSB BSB: Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
28 ULT for the Lord will carry out his word on the earth, finishing{ it} and cutting{ it} short.” BSB BSB: For the Lord will carry out His sentence on the earth thoroughly and decisively.”
29 ULT And just as Isaiah has said beforehand,“If the Lord of hosts did not leave us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah.” BSB BSB: It is just as Isaiah foretold: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.”
Israel’s Unbelief 30 ULT What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who are not pursuing righteousness, obtained righteousness, but righteousness that{ is} by faith. BSB BSB: What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
31 ULT But Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain{ it} through the law. BSB BSB: but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
32 ULT Why? Because{ it was} not by faith, but as by works. They stumbled over the stone of stumbling, BSB BSB: Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
33 ULT just as it is written,“Behold, I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and the one believing on it will not be ashamed.” BSB BSB: as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.