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I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
(9:1)
That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart
(9:2)
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
(9:3)
Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;
(9:4)
Whose [are] the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen
(9:5)
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel:
(9:6)
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called
(9:7)
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed
(9:8)
For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son
(9:9)
And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac;
(9:10)
(For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
(9:11)
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger
(9:12)
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated
(9:13)
What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid
(9:14)
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion
(9:15)
So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy
(9:16)
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth
(9:17)
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth
(9:18)
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
(9:19)
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?
(9:20)
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
(9:21)
[What] if God, willing to show [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
(9:22)
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
(9:23)
Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
(9:24)
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved
(9:25)
And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God
(9:26)
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
(9:27)
For he will finish the work, and cut [it] short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth
(9:28)
And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha
(9:29)
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith
(9:30)
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness
(9:31)
Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
(9:32)
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed
(9:33)
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