Romans 9:1-18

New International Version - UK

Paul’s anguish over Israel

9 I speak the truth in Christ – I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit – ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, ⁴ the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. ⁵ Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, for ever praised!^[a] Amen.

God’s sovereign choice

⁶ It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 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.’^{[b] 8} In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. ⁹ For this was how the promise was stated: ‘At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.’^[c]

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

¹⁴ What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 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.’^{[g] 18} Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.