Parable of Ten Virgins

25 “Then ^(A)the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their ^(B)lamps and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were ^(C)prudent. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; ⁴ but the ^(D)prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. ⁵ Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. ⁶ But at midnight ^[a]there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ However, the ^(E)prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ But while they were ^[b]on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were ^(F)ready went in with him to ^(G)the wedding feast; and ^(H)the door was shut. ¹¹ Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘^(I)Lord, lord, open up for us.’ ¹² But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ ^13 (J)Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

Parable of the Talents

¹⁴ “^(K)For it is just like a man ^(L)about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five ^[c](M)talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he ^(N)went on his journey. ¹⁶ The one who had received the five ^(O)talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. ¹⁷ In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. ¹⁸ But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his ^[d]master’s money.

¹⁹ “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *^(P)settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received the five ^(Q)talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and ^(R)faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will ^(S)put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your ^[e]master.’

²² “Also the one who had received the two ^(T)talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and ^(U)faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

²⁴ “Now the one who had received the one ^(V)talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’

²⁶ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You ^[f]worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have ^[g]put my money in the bank, and ^[h]on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. ²⁸ Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

²⁹ “^(W)For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. ³⁰ And throw the worthless slave into ^(X)the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Judgment

³¹ “But when ^(Y)the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then ^(Z)He will sit on His glorious throne. ³² And all the nations will be ^(AA)gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, ^(AB)just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; ³³ and He will put the sheep ^(AC)on His right, but the goats ^(AD)on the left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, ^(AE)inherit the kingdom prepared for you ^(AF)from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For ^(AG)I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; ^(AH)I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; ^36 (AI)naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you ^(AJ)visited Me; ^(AK)I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ³⁸ And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ³⁹ And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And ^(AL)the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, ^(AM)to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’

⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘^(AN)Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the ^(AO)eternal fire which has been prepared for ^(AP)the devil and his angels; ⁴² for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not ^[i]take care of You?’ ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ ⁴⁶ These will go away into ^(AQ)eternal punishment, but the righteous into ^(AR)eternal life.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

26 ^(AS)When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, ² “^(AT)You know that after two days ^(AU)the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be ^(AV)handed over for crucifixion.”

^3 (AW)At that time the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in ^(AX)the courtyard of the high priest named ^(AY)Caiaphas; ⁴ and they ^(AZ)plotted together to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. ⁵ But they were saying, “Not during the festival, ^(BA)otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”

The Precious Ointment

^6 (BB)Now when Jesus was in ^(BC)Bethany, at the home of Simon ^[j]the Leper, ^7 (BD)a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. ⁸ But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” ¹⁰ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me. ¹¹ For you always have ^(BE)the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. ¹² For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it ^(BF)to prepare Me for burial. ¹³ Truly I say to you, ^(BG)wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas’ Bargain

^14 (BH)Then one of the twelve, named ^(BI)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, “What are you willing to give me ^[k]to ^[l](BJ)betray Him to you?” And ^(BK)they set out for him thirty ^[m]pieces of silver. ¹⁶ And from then on he looked for a good opportunity to ^[n]betray ^[o]Jesus.

^17 (BL)Now on the first day of ^[p](BM)Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and ^[q]asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸ And He said, “Go into the city to ^(BN)a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “^(BO)My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” ¹⁹ The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

The Last Passover

^20 (BP)Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the ^[r]twelve. ²¹ And as they were eating, He said, “^(BQ)Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” ²² Being deeply grieved, they began saying to Him, each one: “Surely it is not I, Lord?” ²³ And He answered, “^(BR)He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. ²⁴ The Son of Man is going away ^(BS)just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^(BT)It would have been good ^[s]for that man if he had not been born.” ²⁵ And ^(BU)Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, ^(BV)Rabbi?” Jesus *said to him, “^(BW)You have said it yourself.”

The Lord’s Supper Instituted

^26 (BX)Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and ^[t](BY)after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” ²⁷ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; ²⁸ for ^(BZ)this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for ^(CA)many for forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom.”

^30 (CB)And after singing a ^[u]hymn, they went out to ^(CC)the Mount of Olives.

³¹ Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all ^[v](CD)fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘^(CE)I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be ^(CF)scattered.’ ³² But after I have been raised, ^(CG)I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” ³³ But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all ^[w]fall away because of You, I will never fall away!” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “^(CH)Truly I say to you that ^(CI)this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ³⁵ Peter *said to Him, “^(CJ)Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well.

The Garden of Gethsemane

^36 (CK)Then Jesus *came with them to a place called ^[x](CL)Gethsemane, and *told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And He took ^(CM)Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. ³⁸ Then He *said to them, “^(CN)My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and ^(CO)keep watch with Me.”

³⁹ And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let ^(CP)this cup pass from Me; ^(CQ)yet not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰ And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not ^(CR)keep watch with Me for one hour? ^41 (CS)Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; ^(CT)the spirit is ^[y]willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup ^(CU)cannot pass away unless I drink from it, ^(CV)Your will be done.” ⁴³ Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. ⁴⁵ Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, “^[z]Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, ^(CW)the hour ^[aa]is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!”

Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest

^47 (CX)And while He was still speaking, behold, ^(CY)Judas, one of the twelve, came ^[ab]accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign previously, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him.” ⁴⁹ And immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, ^(CZ)Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “^(DA)Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.

⁵¹ And behold, ^(DB)one of those who were with Jesus ^[ac]reached and drew his ^(DC)sword, and struck the ^(DD)slave of the high priest and ^[ad]cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for ^(DE)all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve ^[ae](DF)legions of ^(DG)angels? ⁵⁴ How then would ^(DH)the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? ^(DI)Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me. ⁵⁶ But all this has taken place so that ^(DJ)the Scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

Jesus before Caiaphas

^57 (DK)Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to ^(DL)Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. ⁵⁸ But ^(DM)Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the ^(DN)courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the ^[af](DO)officers to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the entire ^[ag](DP)Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. ⁶⁰ They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on ^(DQ)two came forward, ⁶¹ and said, “This man stated, ‘^(DR)I am able to destroy the ^[ah]temple of God and to rebuild it ^[ai]in three days.’” ⁶² The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You offer no answer for what these men are testifying against You?” ⁶³ But ^(DS)Jesus kept silent. ^(DT)And the high priest said to Him, “I ^(DU)place You under oath by ^(DV)the living God, to tell us whether You are the ^[aj]Christ, ^(DW)the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus *said to him, “^(DX)You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see ^(DY)the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and ^(DZ)coming on the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵ Then the high priest ^(EA)tore his ^[ak]robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the blasphemy; ⁶⁶ what do you think?” They answered, “^(EB)He deserves death!”

^67 (EC)Then they ^(ED)spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others ^[al]slapped Him, ⁶⁸ and said, “^(EE)Prophesy to us, You ^[am]Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

Peter’s Denials

^69 (EF)Now Peter was sitting outside in the ^(EG)courtyard, and a slave woman came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” ⁷¹ When he had gone out to the gateway, another slave woman saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷² And again he denied it, with an oath: “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “You really are one of them as well, ^(EH)since even the way you talk ^[an]gives you away.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had ^[ao]made: “^(EI)Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Believers United to Christ

7 Or do you not know, ^(A)brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the ^[a]Law), that the ^[b]Law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? ² For ^(B)the married woman is bound by law to her ^[c]husband as long as he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law ^[d]concerning the husband. ³ So then, if while her husband is alive she ^[e]gives herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she ^[f]gives herself to another man.

⁴ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were ^(C)put to death ^(D)in regard to the Law ^(E)through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵ For while we were ^(F)in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were ^(G)brought to light by the Law, were at work ^(H)in ^[g]the parts of our body to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we have been ^(I)released from the Law, having ^(J)died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in ^(K)newness of ^(L)the ^[h]Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

^7 (M)What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? ^(N)[i]Far from it! On the contrary, ^(O)I would not have come to know sin except ^[j]through the Law; for I would not have known about ^[k]coveting if the Law had not said, “^(P)You shall not ^[l]covet.” ⁸ But sin, ^(Q)taking an opportunity ^(R)through the commandment, produced in me ^[m]coveting of every kind; for ^(S)apart ^[n]from the Law sin is dead. ⁹ I was once alive apart ^[o]from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; ¹⁰ and this commandment, which was ^[p](T)to result in life, proved ^[q]to result in death for me; ¹¹ for sin, ^(U)taking an opportunity ^(V)through the commandment, ^(W)deceived me, and through it, killed me. ^12 (X)So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

¹³ Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? ^[r](Y)Far from it! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by bringing about my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

The Conflict of Serving Two Masters

¹⁴ For we know that the Law is ^(Z)spiritual, but I am ^(AA)fleshly, ^(AB)sold ^[s](AC)into bondage to sin. ¹⁵ For ^(AD)I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing ^(AE)what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with ^(AF)the Law, that the Law is good. ¹⁷ But now, ^(AG)no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my ^(AH)flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. ¹⁹ For ^(AI)the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. ²⁰ But if I do the very thing I do not want, ^(AJ)I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then ^(AK)the ^[t]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. ²² For I joyfully agree with the law of God ^[u]in ^(AL)the inner person, ²³ but I see ^(AM)a different law in ^[v]the parts of my body waging war against the ^(AN)law of my mind, and making me a prisoner ^[w]of ^(AO)the law of sin, the law which is in ^[x]my body’s parts. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from ^[y](AP)the body of this ^(AQ)death? ^25 (AR)Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh ^(AS)the law of sin.

Deliverance from Bondage

8 Therefore there is now no ^(AT)condemnation at all for those who are ^(AU)in ^(AV)Christ Jesus. ² For ^(AW)the law of the Spirit of life ^[z]in ^(AX)Christ Jesus ^(AY)has set you free from the law of sin and of death. ³ For ^(AZ)what the Law could not do, ^[aa](BA)weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in ^(BB)the likeness of ^[ab]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ so that the ^(BC)requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who ^(BD)do not walk ^[ac]according to the flesh but ^[ad]according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on ^(BE)the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, ^(BF)the things of the Spirit. ^6 (BG)For the mind ^[ae]set on the flesh is ^(BH)death, but the mind ^[af]set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷ because the mind ^[ag]set on the flesh is ^(BI)hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸ and those who are ^(BJ)in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ However, you are not ^(BK)in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God ^(BL)dwells in you. But ^(BM)if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. ^10 (BN)If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is ^[ah]alive because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who ^(BO)raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, ^(BP)He who raised ^(BQ)Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies ^[ai]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³ for ^(BR)if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are ^(BS)putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are ^(BT)being led by the Spirit of God, these are ^(BU)sons and daughters of God. ¹⁵ For you ^(BV)have not received a spirit of slavery ^[aj]leading to fear again, but you ^(BW)have received ^[ak]a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “^(BX)Abba! ^[al]Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself ^(BY)testifies with our spirit that we are ^(BZ)children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, ^(CA)heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, ^(CB)if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time ^(CC)are not worthy to be compared with the ^(CD)glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the ^(CE)eagerly awaiting creation waits for ^(CF)the revealing of the ^(CG)sons and daughters of God. ²⁰ For the creation ^(CH)was subjected to ^(CI)futility, not willingly, but ^(CJ)because of Him who subjected it, ^[am]in hope ²¹ that ^(CK)the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation ^(CL)groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ^23 (CM)And not only that, but also we ourselves, having ^(CN)the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves ^(CO)groan within ourselves, ^(CP)waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, ^(CQ)the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For ^(CR)in hope we have been saved, but ^(CS)hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But ^(CT)if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Our Victory in Christ

²⁶ Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for ^(CU)we do not know what to pray for as we should, but ^(CV)the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with ^[an]groanings too deep for words; ²⁷ and ^(CW)He who searches the hearts knows what ^(CX)the mind of the Spirit is, because He ^(CY)intercedes for the ^[ao]saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that ^[ap]God ^[aq]causes ^(CZ)all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are ^(DA)called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He ^(DB)foreknew, He also ^(DC)predestined to become ^(DD)conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the ^(DE)firstborn among many brothers and sisters; ³⁰ and these whom He ^(DF)predestined, He also ^(DG)called; and these whom He called, He also ^(DH)justified; and these whom He justified, He also ^(DI)glorified.

^31 (DJ)What then shall we say to these things? ^(DK)If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who ^(DL)did not spare His own Son, but ^(DM)delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? ³³ Who will bring charges against ^(DN)God’s elect? ^(DO)God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who ^(DP)condemns? Christ Jesus is He who ^(DQ)died, but rather, was ^[ar](DR)raised, who is ^(DS)at the right hand of God, who also ^(DT)intercedes for us. ³⁵ Who will separate us from ^(DU)the love of ^[as]Christ? Will ^(DV)tribulation, or trouble, or ^(DW)persecution, or ^(DX)famine, or ^(DY)nakedness, or ^(DZ)danger, or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written:

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly ^(EB)conquer through ^(EC)Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither ^(ED)death, nor life, nor ^(EE)angels, nor principalities, nor ^(EF)things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from ^(EG)the love of God that is ^(EH)in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deep Concern for Israel

9 ^(EI)I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. ³ For ^(EJ)I could ^[at]wish that I myself were ^(EK)accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my countrymen, my kinsmen ^(EL)according to the flesh, ⁴ who are ^(EM)Israelites, to whom belongs ^(EN)the adoption as sons and daughters, ^(EO)the glory, ^(EP)the covenants, ^(EQ)the giving of the Law, ^(ER)the temple service, and ^(ES)the promises; ⁵ whose are ^(ET)the fathers, and ^(EU)from whom is the ^[au]Christ according to the flesh, ^(EV)who is over all, ^(EW)God ^(EX)blessed ^[av]forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though ^(EY)the word of God has failed. ^(EZ)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; ⁷ nor are they all children ^(FA)because they are Abraham’s ^[aw](FB)descendants, but: “^[ax](FC)through Isaac your ^[ay]descendants shall be named.” ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh ^[az]who are ^(FD)children of God, but the ^(FE)children of the promise are regarded as ^[ba](FF)descendants. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: “^(FG)At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” ^10 (FH)And not only that, but there was also ^(FI)Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; ¹¹ for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that ^(FJ)God’s purpose according to His choice would ^[bb]stand, not ^[bc]because of works but ^[bd]because of Him who calls, ¹² it was said to her, “^(FK)The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ Just as it is written: “^(FL)Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

^14 (FM)What shall we say then? ^(FN)There is no injustice with God, is there? ^[be](FO)Far from it! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “^(FP)I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.” ¹⁶ So then, it does not depend on the person who ^[bf]wants it nor the one who ^[bg](FQ)runs, but on ^(FR)God who has mercy. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “^(FS)For this very reason I raised you up, in order to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed ^[bh]throughout the earth.” ¹⁸ So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He ^(FT)hardens whom He desires.

^19 (FU)You will say to me then, “^(FV)Why does He still find fault? For ^(FW)who has resisted His will?” ²⁰ On the contrary, who are you, ^[bi](FX)you foolish person, who ^(FY)answers back to God? ^(FZ)The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? ²¹ Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object ^[bj]for honorable use, and another ^[bk]for common use? ^22 [bl]What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great ^(GA)patience objects of wrath ^(GB)prepared for destruction? ²³ And He did so to make known ^(GC)the riches of His glory upon ^(GD)objects of mercy, which He ^(GE)prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ namely us, whom He also ^(GF)called, ^(GG)not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles, ²⁵ as He also says in Hosea:

²⁷ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “^(GK)Though the number of the sons of Israel may be ^(GL)like the sand of the sea, only ^(GM)the remnant will be saved; ^28 (GN)for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, ^[bm]thoroughly and ^[bn]quickly.” ²⁹ And just as Isaiah foretold:

^30 (GS)What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but ^(GT)the righteousness that is ^[br]by faith; ³¹ however, Israel, ^(GU)pursuing a law of righteousness, did not ^(GV)arrive at that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it ^[bs]by faith, but as though they could ^[bt]by works. They stumbled over ^(GW)the stumbling stone, ³³ just as it is written: