Chapter I: SPEAK the truth in Christ, I lie not, (my conscience also bearing

witness to me in the Holy Ghost,) (2)that great is my sorrow and unceasing the anguish in my heart. (3)For could I myself wish that an anathema should be from Christ upon my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh? (4)who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the gift of the law, and the sacred service, and the promises; (5)of whom are the fathers, and from whom as respecting the flesh Christ sprung, who is over all, the blessed God for evermore. Amen.

(6)Now it is not supposable that the word of God hath failed. For these are not all Israel, who are of Israel: (7)nor, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. (8)That is, not the children of the flesh, these are the children of God: but the children of the promise are accounted for the seed. (9)For the word of promise is this, At that time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. (10)And not only so; but when Rebecca also had conception by one, even Isaac our father; (11)(though the children were not yet born, nor had done any thing good or evil, that according to the election of God the purpose might abide, not from works, but from him who called;) (12)it was said unto her, "That the elder shall be servant to the younger[58]." (13)As it is written, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated[59]." (14)What shall we say therefore? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15)For he saith to Moses[60], "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (16)Well then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God who sheweth mercy.

(17)For the scripture saith[61] to Pharaoh, "That for this very end have I raised thee up, that I might display in thee my power, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." (18)Well then, he hath mercy on whom he will, but whom he will he hardeneth. (19)Wilt thou then say to me, Why yet doth he blame us? Who hath resisted his will? (20)Nay but, O man, who art thou that disputest against God? Shall the thing fashioned say to him that fashioned it, Why hast thou made me thus? (21)Hath not the potter power over the clay, from the same mass to make one vessel for an honourable use, and another for a dishonourable? (22)But what if God, willing to display his wrath, and to make known what is possible with him, hath borne with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for perdition: (23)and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon the vessels of mercy which he had before prepared for glory: (24)even us, whom he hath called, not only out of the Jews, but out of the Gentiles? (25)As also he saith in Hosea[62], "I will call her which was not my people, my people; and her which was not beloved, beloved. (26)And it shall be in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; there shall they be called the sons of the living God." (27)But Isaiah[63] crieth concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: (28)for he will finish the account, and cut it short in righteousness: because a concise account will the Lord make on the earth." (29)Even as Isaiah had said before[64], "Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left unto us a seed, we should have become as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrha."

(30)What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who pursued not after righteousness, have attained unto righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith. (31)But Israel, pursuing after the law of righteousness, hath not come up to the law of righteousness. (32)And why? Because they sought it not by faith, but as by the works of the law. For they stumbled against that stone of stumbling; (33)as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence: and every one that believeth in him shall not be confounded[65]."

CHAP. X.

BRETHREN, the kind wish of my heart indeed, and the prayer which I offer to God for Israel, is for their salvation. (2)For I am a witness for them, that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (3)For being ignorant of the righteousness which is of God, and seeking to establish a righteousness of their own, they have not submitted to the righteousness of God. (4)For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (5)For Moses describeth the righteousness which is by the law, "That the man who doeth these things shall live by them[66]." (6)But the righteousness that is by faith speaketh thus[67], "Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:) (7)or, Who shall descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up again from the dead.) (8)But what saith it? "The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart:" that is, the word of faith which we preach; (9)That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10)For with the heart faith is exercised unto righteousness; and with the mouth is confession made unto salvation. (11)For the scripture saith[68], "Every one who believeth in him shall not be confounded."

(12)For there is no difference between either Jew or Greek: for the same Lord of all is rich to all that call upon him. (13)"For every one shall be saved, whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord[69]." (14)How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? but how shall they hear without a preacher? (15)and how shall they preach unless they are sent? as it is written[70], "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, of those who preach the glad tidings of good things!" (16)But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, "Lord, who hath believed our report[71]?" (17)Faith then cometh by report, but the report by the word of God. (18)But I say, Have they not heard? Yea verily, "the sound of their voice is gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world[72]."

(19)But I say, Did not Israel know? Moses first saith, "I will excite your jealousy by what is no nation, and by an ignorant people will I provoke you to wrath[73]." (20)But Isaiah is very bold, and saith[74], "I have been found by those who sought me not; I have become manifest to those who inquired not after me." (21)But unto Israel he saith, "All the day long have I stretched out my hands unto a people disobedient and contradicting."

CHAP. XI.