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[1]I say the truth in Messiah, and do not misrepresent; and my conscience beareth me witness in the Holy Spirit; |
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[2]that I have great sorrow, and the sadness of my heart is unceasing. |
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[3]For I have prayed, that I myself might be accursed from Messiah, for my brethren and my kinsmen in the flesh: |
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[4]who are sons of Israel, to whom belonged the adoption of sons, and the glory, and the covenants, and the law, and the ministration, and the promises, and the fathers; |
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[5]and from among whom, Messiah appeared in the flesh, who is God over all; to whom be praises and benediction, for ever and ever; Amen. |
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[6]Not, however, that the word of God hath actually failed. For all are not Israel, who are of Israel. |
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[7]Neither are they all sons, because they are of the seed of Abraham: for it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. |
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[8]That is, it is not the children of the flesh, who are the children of God; but the children of the promise, are accounted for the seed. |
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[9]For the word of promise was this: At that time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. |
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[10]Nor this only; but Rebecca also, when she had cohabited with one [man], our father Isaac, |
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[11]before her children were born, or: had done good or evil, the choice of God was predeclared; that it might stand, not of works, but of him who called. |
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[12]For it was said: The elder shall be servant to the younger. |
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[13]As it is written: Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated. |
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[14]What shall we say then? Is there iniquity with God? Far be it. |
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[15]Behold, to Moses also he said: I will have pity, on whom I will have pity; and I will be merciful, to whom I will be merciful. |
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[16]Therefore, it is not of him who is willing, nor of him who runneth, but of the merciful God. |
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[17]For in the scripture, he said to Pharaoh: For this very thing, have I raised thee up; that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. |
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[18]Wherefore, he hath pity upon whom he pleaseth; and whom he pleaseth, he hardeneth. |
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[19]But, perhaps thou wilt say: Of what [then] doth he complain? For, who hath resisted his pleasure? |
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[20]Thou, thus! Who art thou? O man; that thou repliest against God! Shall the potter's vessel say to the former of it, Why hast thou formed me so? |
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[21]Hath not the potter dominion over his clay out of the same mass to make vessels, one for honor, and another for dishonor? |
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[22]And if God, being disposed to exhibit his wrath and to make known his power, in abundance of long-suffering, brought wrath upon the vessels of wrath which were complete for destruction; |
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[23]and made his mercy flow forth upon the vessels of mercy, which were prepared by God for glory; |
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[24]namely, upon us who are called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles: |
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[25]As also he said in Hosea: I will call them my people, who were not my people; and will pity, whom I have not pitied: |
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[26]For it shall be, that in the place where they were called: Not my people, there shall they be called: The children of the living God. |
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[27]And Isaiah proclaimed concerning the children of Israel: Though the number of the children of Israel should be as the sand on the sea, a remnant of them will live. |
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[28]He hath finished and cut short the matter: and the Lord will do it on the earth. |
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[29]And according to what Isaiah had before said: If the Lord of hosts had not favored us with a residue, we had been as Sodom, and had been like Gomorrha. |
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[30]What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who ran not after righteousness, have found righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith: |
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[31]But Israel, who ran after the law of righteousness, hath not found the law of righteousness. |
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[32]And why? Because [they sought it], not by faith, but by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone: |
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[33]As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling-stone, and a stone of offence: and he who believeth in him, shall not be ashamed. |