Romans 9
International Standard Version
Paul’s Concern for the Jewish People
9 I am telling the truth because I belong to[a] the Messiah[b]—I am not lying, and my conscience confirms it by means of the Holy Spirit. 2 I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart, 3 for I could wish that I myself were condemned[c] and cut off from the Messiah[d] for the sake of my brothers, my own people,[e] 4 who are Israelis. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants,[f] the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To the Israelis[g] belong the patriarchs, and from them, the Messiah[h] descended,[i] who is God over all, the one who is forever blessed. Amen.
6 Now it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel, 7 and not all of Abraham’s descendants are his true descendants. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you.”[j] 8 That is, it is not merely the children born through natural descent who were regarded as God’s children, but it is the children born through the promise who were regarded as descendants. 9 For this is the language of the promise: “At this time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[k] 10 Not only that, but Rebecca became pregnant by our ancestor Isaac. 11 Yet before their children[l] had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s plan of election might continue to operate 12 according to his calling and not by actions), Rebecca[m] was told, “The older child will serve the younger one.”[n] 13 So it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[o]
14 What can we say, then? God is not unrighteous, is he? Of course not! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will be merciful to the person I want to be merciful to, and I will be kind to the person I want to be kind to.”[p] 16 Therefore, God’s choice[q] does not depend on a person’s will or effort, but on God himself, who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says about Pharaoh,
“I have raised you up for this very purpose,
to demonstrate my power through you
and that my name might be proclaimed
in all the earth.”[r]
18 Therefore, God[s] has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.
God Chose People who are Not Jewish
19 You may ask me, “Then why does God[t] still find fault with anybody?[u] For who can resist his will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you—mere man that you are—to talk back to God? Can an object that was molded say to the one who molded it, “Why did you make me like this?” 21 A potter has the right to do what he wants to with his clay, doesn’t he? He can make something for a special occasion or something for ordinary use from the same lump of clay.
22 Now if God wants to demonstrate his wrath and reveal his power, can’t he be extremely patient with the objects of his wrath that are made for destruction? 23 Can’t he also reveal his glorious riches to the objects of his mercy that he has prepared ahead of time for glory— 24 including us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but from the gentiles as well? 25 As the Scripture[v] says in Hosea,
“Those who are not my people
I will call my people,
and the one who was not loved
I will call my loved one.[w]
26 In the very place where it was told them,
‘You are not my people,’
they will be called children of the living God.”[x]
27 Isaiah also calls out concerning Israel,
“Although the descendants of Israel
are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore,
only a few will be saved.
28 For the Lord[y] will carry out his plan decisively,
bringing it to completion on the earth.”[z]
29 It is just as Isaiah predicted:
“If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies
had not left us some descendants,
we would have become like Sodom
and would have been compared to Gomorrah.”[aa]
30 What can we say, then? Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, have attained righteousness, a righteousness that comes through faith. 31 But Israel, who pursued righteousness based on the Law, did not achieve the Law. 32 Why not? Because they did not pursue it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on achievements. They stumbled over the stone that causes people to stumble. 33 As it is written,
“Look! I am placing a stone in Zion
over which people will stumble—
a large rock that will make them fall—
and the one who believes in him will never be ashamed.”[ab]
Footnotes
- Romans 9:1 Lit. truth in
- Romans 9:1 Or Christ
- Romans 9:3 Or accursed
- Romans 9:3 Or Christ
- Romans 9:3 Lit. own relatives according to the flesh
- Romans 9:4 Other mss. read the covenant
- Romans 9:5 Lit. To them
- Romans 9:5 Or Christ
- Romans 9:5 Lit. Messiah according to the flesh
- Romans 9:7 Cf. Gen 21:12
- Romans 9:9 Cf. Gen 18:10, 14
- Romans 9:11 Lit. they
- Romans 9:12 Lit. she
- Romans 9:12 Cf. Gen 25:23
- Romans 9:13 Cf. Mal 1:2-3
- Romans 9:15 Cf. Exod 33:19
- Romans 9:16 Lit. it
- Romans 9:17 Cf. Exod 9:16
- Romans 9:18 Lit. he
- Romans 9:19 Lit. he
- Romans 9:19 The Gk. lacks with anybody
- Romans 9:25 Lit. As it
- Romans 9:25 Cf. Hos 2:23
- Romans 9:26 Cf. Hos 1:10
- Romans 9:28 MT source citation reads Lord
- Romans 9:28 Cf. Isa 10:22-23
- Romans 9:29 Cf. Isa 1:9
- Romans 9:33 Cf. Isa 28:16
Romans 9
New International Version
Paul’s Anguish Over Israel
9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,(A) my conscience confirms(B) it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself(C) were cursed(D) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,(E) those of my own race,(F) 4 the people of Israel.(G) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;(H) theirs the divine glory,(I) the covenants,(J) the receiving of the law,(K) the temple worship(L) and the promises.(M) 5 Theirs are the patriarchs,(N) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,(O) who is God over all,(P) forever praised Amen.
God’s Sovereign Choice
6 It is not as though God’s word(R) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.(S) 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](T) 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,(U) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.(V) 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[c](W)
10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.(X) 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad(Y)—in order that God’s purpose(Z) in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d](AA) 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[e](AB)
14 What then shall we say?(AC) Is God unjust? Not at all!(AD) 15 For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[f](AE)
16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.(AF) 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](AG) 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.(AH)
19 One of you will say to me:(AI) “Then why does God still blame us?(AJ) For who is able to resist his will?”(AK) 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?(AL) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,(AM) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[h](AN) 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?(AO)
22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience(AP) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?(AQ) 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory(AR) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory(AS)— 24 even us, whom he also called,(AT) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?(AU) 25 As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”[i](AV)
26 and,
“In the very place where it was said to them,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”[j](AW)
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:
“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,(AX)
only the remnant will be saved.(AY)
28 For the Lord will carry out
his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”[k](AZ)
29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:
“Unless the Lord Almighty(BA)
had left us descendants,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.”[l](BB)
Israel’s Unbelief
30 What then shall we say?(BC) That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;(BD) 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,(BE) have not attained their goal.(BF) 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.(BG) 33 As it is written:
Footnotes
- Romans 9:5 Or Messiah, who is over all. God be forever praised! Or Messiah. God who is over all be forever praised!
- Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
- Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14
- Romans 9:12 Gen. 25:23
- Romans 9:13 Mal. 1:2,3
- Romans 9:15 Exodus 33:19
- Romans 9:17 Exodus 9:16
- Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9
- Romans 9:25 Hosea 2:23
- Romans 9:26 Hosea 1:10
- Romans 9:28 Isaiah 10:22,23 (see Septuagint)
- Romans 9:29 Isaiah 1:9
- Romans 9:33 Isaiah 8:14; 28:16
Rimljanima 9
Biblija: suvremeni hrvatski prijevod
Bog i židovski narod
9 Govorim vam istinu u Kristu. Ne lažem vam, a moja savjest, koju vodi Sveti Duh, svjedok mi je 2 da u srcu nosim duboku bol i žalost. 3 Skoro bih htio da i ja budem proklet i odvojen od Krista kad bi im to moglo pomoći, jer to su moja braća i sestre, moji sunarodnjaci. 4 Oni su Izraelov narod, Bog ih je posvojio, pokazao im svoju slavu i sklapao saveze s njima. Dao im je Zakon, pravo bogoštovlje i svoja obećanja. 5 Oni su potomci slavnih predaka i od njih u tjelesnom smislu potječe Krist, koji je Bog nad svim. Njemu uvijek slava! Amen.
6 No nije sporno je li Bog održao svoje obećanje Židovima jer nisu svi koji potječu od Izraela pravi Izraelci, 7 niti su svi koji potječu od Abrahama prava Abrahamova djeca. Bog je rekao Abrahamu: »Tvoje će se potomstvo računati po Izaku«,[a] 8 a to znači da nisu svi tjelesno rođeni Abrahamovi potomci Božja djeca, nego se Božjom djecom smatraju oni koji su rođeni po obećanju što ga je Bog dao Abrahamu. 9 Njegovo obećanje glasi: »Vratit ću se u određeno vrijeme i Sara će imati sina.«[b]
10 Ali to nije sve. I Rebeka je zatrudnjela. I njezini su sinovi imali istog oca, našeg pretka Izaka. 11 Prije nego što su se obojica rodila i prije nego što su mogla napraviti išta dobro ili loše—da izbor bude po Božjem planu, 12 a ne zbog njihovih djela—Bog je rekao Rebeki: »Stariji će sin služiti mlađemu.«[c] Tako je mlađi sin izabran po Božjem pozivu. 13 Kao što piše u Svetom pismu: »Jakova sam volio, a Ezava mrzio.«[d]
14 Što da kažemo? Zar je Bog nepravedan? 15 Nikako! Bog je rekao Mojsiju: »Pokazat ću milost kome želim i sažalit ću se kome želim.«[e] 16 Dakle, Božji izbor ne ovisi o našoj želji ili našem naporu, nego o Bogu. On je taj koji iskazuje milosrđe. 17 U Svetom pismu Bog je rekao faraonu: »Postavio sam te zato da na tebi mogu pokazati svoju moć i da se moje ime razglasi po cijelom svijetu.«[f] 18 Dakle, Bog iskazuje milost onima kojima želi biti milostiv, a čini tvrdoglavima one za koje želi da budu tvrdoglavi.
19 Netko će me pitati: »Ako Bog upravlja nama, zašto nas onda krivi za naše grijehe? Tko se može suprotstaviti njegovoj volji?« 20 No tko si ti, čovječe, da prigovaraš Bogu? Ni posuda ne može pitati onoga koji ju je napravio zašto joj je dao baš takav oblik. 21 Lončar može od grude gline napraviti posudu kakvu želi—ljepšu posudu za svečane prigode ili običnu za svakodnevnu upotrebu.
22 Bog je želio pokazati svoj gnjev da ljudi vide njegovu moć. No, bez obzira na to, ipak je imao mnogo strpljenja s onima na koje je bio ljut i koji su bili određeni za propast. 23 Želio je pokazati kako je velika njegova slava koja će se dati onima koji primaju milosrđe. Bog ih je pripremio za slavu. 24 Mi smo ti koje je pozvao, ne samo iz židovskog naroda nego i iz svih ostalih naroda. 25 Kao što piše u Svetom pismu u Hošeinoj knjizi:
»One koji nisu moj narod prozvat ću svojim narodom
i onima koje nisam volio reći ću da ih volim.[g]
26 Na istome mjestu gdje je Bog rekao:
‘Vi niste moj narod’,
bit će prozvani djecom živoga Boga.«[h]
27 A prorok Izaija je rekao o Izraelu:
»Iako Izraelaca ima poput pijeska u moru,
samo će se malen broj spasiti.
28 Božji sud na Zemlji bit će brz i konačan.«[i]
29 Kao što je Izaija već rekao:
»Da nam Bog Svevladar nije ostavio potomstvo,
bili bismo poput Sodome,
postali bismo poput Gomore.«[j]
30 Što ćemo zaključiti? Drugi narodi nisu težili za pravednošću, ali su je primili—pravednost koja se temelji na vjeri. 31 A Izraelci, koji su slijedili Zakon da bi stekli pravednost pred Bogom, nisu u tome uspjeli. 32 A zašto? Zato što su htjeli postati pravedni po svojim djelima, a ne po vjeri u Boga. Naišli su na kamen spoticanja i pali, 33 kao što piše u Svetom pismu:
»Gledajte, na Sionu postavljam kamen
na kojem će se ljudi spoticati,
stijenu zbog koje će padati,
ali onaj tko vjeruje u njega,
neće se razočarati.«[k]
Romans 9
New King James Version
Israel’s Rejection of Christ
9 I (A)tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 (B)that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For (C)I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my [a]countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, (D)to whom pertain the adoption, (E)the glory, (F)the covenants, (G)the giving of the law, (H)the service of God, and (I)the promises; 5 (J)of whom are the fathers and from (K)whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, (L)who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.
Israel’s Rejection and God’s Purpose(M)
6 (N)But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For (O)they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 (P)nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, (Q)“In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but (R)the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: (S)“At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”
10 And not only this, but when (T)Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of (U)Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, (V)“The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, (W)“Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
Israel’s Rejection and God’s Justice
14 What shall we say then? (X)Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, (Y)“I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For (Z)the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, (AA)“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He (AB)hardens.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For (AC)who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? (AD)Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the (AE)potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make (AF)one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering (AG)the vessels of wrath (AH)prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known (AI)the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had (AJ)prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He (AK)called, (AL)not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 As He says also in Hosea:
(AM)“I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved.”
26 “And(AN) it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of the living God.”
27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:
(AO)“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
(AP)The remnant will be saved.
28 For [b]He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,
(AQ)Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”
29 And as Isaiah said before:
(AR)“Unless the Lord of [c]Sabaoth had left us a seed,
(AS)We would have become like Sodom,
And we would have been made like Gomorrah.”
Present Condition of Israel
30 What shall we say then? (AT)That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, (AU)even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, (AV)pursuing the law of righteousness, (AW)has not attained to the law [d]of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, [e]by the works of the law. For (AX)they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:
(AY)“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And (AZ)whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Footnotes
- Romans 9:3 Or relatives
- Romans 9:28 NU the Lord will finish the work and cut it short upon the earth
- Romans 9:29 Lit., in Heb., Hosts
- Romans 9:31 NU omits of righteousness
- Romans 9:32 NU by works, omitting of the law
Romans 9
King James Version
9 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 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;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 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 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (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;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 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.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 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?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 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.
27 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:
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
29 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.
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
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