Romans 9:7-33

New International Version

⁷ Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”^{[a](A) 8} In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,^(B) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.^{(C) 9} For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”^[b](D)

¹⁰ Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.^{(E) 11} Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad^(F)—in order that God’s purpose^(G) in election might stand: ¹² not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”^{[c](H) 13} Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[d](I)

¹⁴ What then shall we say?^(J) Is God unjust? Not at all!^{(K) 15} For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.^{(M) 17} For 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.”^{[f](N) 18} Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(O)

¹⁹ One of you will say to me:^(P) “Then why does God still blame us?^(Q) For who is able to resist his will?”^{(R) 20} But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(S) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(T) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^{[g](U) 21} Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?^(V)

²² What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience^(W) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?^{(X) 23} What if he did this to make the riches of his glory^(Y) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory^(Z)— ²⁴ even us, whom he also called,^(AA) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?^{(AB) 25} As he says in Hosea:

²⁶ and,

²⁷ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

²⁹ It is just as Isaiah said previously:

Israel’s Unbelief

³⁰ What then shall we say?^(AJ) That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;^{(AK) 31} but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,^(AL) have not attained their goal.^{(AM) 32} Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^{(AN) 33} As it is written: