^{1 Ref} Truth I say in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing testimony with me in the Holy Spirit,

^{2 Ref} that I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart --

^{3 Ref} for I was wishing, I myself, to be anathema from the Christ -- for my brethren, my kindred, according to the flesh,

^{4 Ref} who are Israelites, whose `is' the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the lawgiving, and the service, and the promises,

^{5 Ref} whose `are' the fathers, and of whom `is' the Christ, according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed to the ages. Amen.

^{6 Ref} And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who `are' of Israel are these Israel;

^{7 Ref} nor because they are seed of Abraham `are' all children, but -- `in Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;'

^{8 Ref} that is, the children of the flesh -- these `are' not children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for seed;

^{9 Ref} for the word of promise `is' this; `According to this time I will come, and there shall be to Sarah a son.'

^{10 Ref} And not only `so', but also Rebecca, having conceived by one -- Isaac our father --

^{11 Ref} (for they being not yet born, neither having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to choice, might remain; not of works, but of Him who is calling,) it was said to her --

^{12 Ref} `The greater shall serve the less;'

^{13 Ref} according as it hath been written, `Jacob I did love, and Esau I did hate.'

^{14 Ref} What, then, shall we say? unrighteousness `is' with God? let it not be!

^{15 Ref} for to Moses He saith, `I will do kindness to whom I do kindness, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion;'

^{16 Ref} so, then -- not of him who is willing, nor of him who is running, but of God who is doing kindness:

^{17 Ref} for the Writing saith to Pharaoh -- `For this very thing I did raise thee up, that I might shew in thee My power, and that My name might be declared in all the land;'

^{18 Ref} so, then, to whom He willeth, He doth kindness, and to whom He willeth, He doth harden.

^{19 Ref} Thou wilt say, then, to me, `Why yet doth He find fault? for His counsel who hath resisted?'

^{20 Ref} nay, but, O man, who art thou that art answering again to God? shall the thing formed say to Him who did form `it', Why me didst thou make thus?

^{21 Ref} hath not the potter authority over the clay, out of the same lump to make the one vessel to honour, and the one to dishonour?

^{22 Ref} And if God, willing to shew the wrath and to make known His power, did endure, in much long suffering, vessels of wrath fitted for destruction,

^{23 Ref} and that He might make known the riches of His glory on vessels of kindness, that He before prepared for glory, whom also He did call -- us --

^{24 Ref} not only out of Jews, but also out of nations,

^{25 Ref} as also in Hosea He saith, `I will call what `is' not My people -- My people; and her not beloved -- Beloved,

^{26 Ref} and it shall be -- in the place where it was said to them, Ye `are' not My people; there they shall be called sons of the living God.'

^{27 Ref} And Isaiah doth cry concerning Israel, `If the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, the remnant shall be saved;

^{28 Ref} for a matter He is finishing, and is cutting short in righteousness, because a matter cut short will the Lord do upon the land.

^{29 Ref} and according as Isaiah saith before, `Except the Lord of Sabaoth did leave to us a seed, as Sodom we had become, and as Gomorrah we had been made like.'

^{30 Ref} What, then, shall we say? that nations who are not pursuing righteousness did attain to righteousness, and righteousness that `is' of faith,

^{31 Ref} and Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, at a law of righteousness did not arrive;

^{32 Ref} wherefore? because -- not by faith, but as by works of law; for they did stumble at the stone of stumbling,

^{33 Ref} according as it hath been written, `Lo, I place in Sion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; and every one who is believing thereon shall not be ashamed.'