1I speak the truth in Christ Rm 1:9; 2Co 11:10; Gl 1:20; 1Tm 2:7 — I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit Or testifying with me by the Holy Spirit —

2that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart.

3For I could almost wish Ex 32:32 to be cursed 1Co 12:3; 16:22; Gl 1:8,9 and cut off Lit were anathema from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my own flesh and blood.

4They are Israelites, Rm 8:6 and to them belong the adoption, Ex 4:22; Rm 8:15 the glory, Ex 40:34; 1Kg 8:11; Ezk 1:28; Heb 9:5 the covenants, Gn 17:2; Dt 29:14; Lk 1:72; Ac 3:25; Eph 2:12 the giving of the law, Dt 4:13-14; Ps 147:19 the temple service, Dt 7:6; 14:1; Heb 9:1,6 and the promises. Ac 2:39; 13:32; Eph 2:12

5The ancestors are theirs, Ac 3:13; Rm 11:28 and from them, by physical descent, Lit them, according to the flesh came the Messiah, Mt 1:1-16; Rm 1:3 who is God Jn 1:1; Col 2:9 over all, Col 1:16-19 praised forever. Or the Messiah, the One who is over all, the God who is blessed forever, or Messiah. God, who is over all, be blessed forever Rm 1:25 Amen.

6But it is not as though the word of God has failed. Nm 23:19 For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Jn 1:47; Rm 2:28-29; Gl 6:16

7Neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants. Lit seed Jn 8:33,39; Gl 4:23 On the contrary, your offspring will be traced Lit called through Isaac. Gn 21:12; Heb 11:18 Gn 21:12

8That is, it is not the children by physical descent Lit children of the flesh who are God’s children, Rm 8:14 but the children of the promise Rm 4:13,16; Gl 3:29; 4:28; Heb 11:11 are considered to be the offspring.

9For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son. Gn 18:10,14 Gn 18:10,14

10And not only that, Rm 5:3 but also Rebekah received a promise when she became pregnant Or Rebekah conceived by the one act of sexual intercourse Gn 25:21 by one man, our ancestor Isaac.

11For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand — Rm 4:17; 8:28

12not from works but from the One who calls — she was told: The older will serve the younger. Gn 25:23 Gn 25:23

13As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau. Mal 1:2-3 Mal 1:2-3

14What should we say then? Rm 3:5 Is there injustice with God? 2Ch 19:7; Rm 2:11 Absolutely not! Lk 20:16

15For He tells Moses:

19You will say to me, Rm 11:19; 1Co 15:25; Jms 2:18 therefore, “Why then does He still find fault? Rm 3:7 For who can resist His will? ” 2Ch 20:6; Jb 9:12; Dn 4:35

20But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God? Jb 33:13 Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this? ” Is 29:16; 45:9; 64:8; Jr 18:6; 2Tm 2:20

21Or has the potter no right over the clay, Is 64:8; Jr 18:6 to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?

22And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience Rm 2:4 objects of wrath ready for destruction? Pr 16:4; 1Pt 2:8

23And what if He did this to make known the riches of His glory Rm 2:4; Eph 3:16 on objects of mercy Ac 9:15 that He prepared beforehand for glory Rm 8:29 —

24on us, the ones He also called, Rm 8:28 not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? Rm 3:29

25As He also says in Hosea:

26And it will be in the place where they were told,

28for the Lord will execute His sentence

30What should we say then? Rm 9:14 Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness — namely the righteousness that comes from faith. Rm 1:17; 3:21; 10:6; Gl 2:16; 3:24; Php 3:9; Heb 11:7

31But Israel, pursuing the law for righteousness, Is 51:1; Rm 10:2,20; 11:7 has not achieved the righteousness of the law. Other mss read the law for righteousness Gl 5:4

32Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. Other mss add of the law They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 1Pt 2:6,8

33As it is written: