1I tell the truth in Christ. I do not lie! My conscience bears witness with me in Holy Spirit. 2I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3I could wish that I were accursed separatedbannedexcommunicated from Christ for the good of in behalf of my countrymen and brothers the Jews. 4They are Israelites and the adoption belongs to them. They have the glory of the covenants. The law was given to them along with the service and promises. 5The forefathers belong to them from whom came the Christ according to the flesh. God who is over all is blessed forever. Amen. 6It is not as if the word of God failed. Not all who come from Israel are really Israel. 7It is not because they are Abraham’s that they are all children, but: »What will be called ‘your seed’ will be through Isaac.« (Genesis 21:12) 8That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as seed. 9The word of promise: »According to this time I will come and Sarah will have a son.« 10Not only that, but Rebecca conceived by Isaac our father. 11When they had not yet been born nor performed anything good or vile, so the purpose of God regarding the choosing would continue without dependence on works but on the One who calls. 12She was told: »The older will serve the younger.« 13It is written: »I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau.« 14What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? There is not! 15He says to Moses, »I will show mercy to the one I choose to show mercy, and I will feel compassion for the one I choose to feel compassion.« 16So then it does not depend on mans will or effort, but on God who shows mercy. 17The scripture says to Pharaoh: »For this reason I have raised you up, that I might through you, show my power and declare my name in all the earth.« 18He shows mercy to the one he chooses, and he allows others to be stubborn. 19You say to me: »Why does he yet find fault? Who resists his purpose will?« 20Yes, but you, O man, who are you to answer back to God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it: »Why have you made me this way?« (Isaiah 45:9) 21Or does the potter not have authority over the clay? Can he make out of the same lump one vessel to honor, and another for common use? (Jeremiah 18:6) 22If God decided to show his wrath and make his power known, endured with much long-suffering vessels of wrath fit for destruction. 23In that way he could make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy that he had prepared in advance for glory. 24We are the ones he has also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the nations. 25He says also in Hosea: »Those who are not my people I will call my people. And she who is not loved I will call loved.« 26In the place where it was said to them: »You are not my people, they will be called Sons of the living God.« (Hosea 2:23) 27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: »Should the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant shall be saved. 28»He is bringing the matter to an end, and cutting it short in righteousness. Jehovah will make an accounting on the earth.« (Isaiah 10:22) 29Just as Isaiah said earlier: »Unless Jehovah of Hosts had left a seed to us, we should have become like Sodom, and Gomorrah.« (Isaiah 1:9) 30What shall we say? The nations did not pursue righteousness. Yet they have attained to righteousness, the righteousness that is based on the principle of faith. 31But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to that law. 32Why? It is because it was not based on the principle of faith, but on that of works. They have stumbled at the stumbling stone. 33It is written: »Behold, I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence and he that believes on him will not be ashamed.« (Isaiah 8:14)