Romans 9

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ; I am not lying. My conscience offers testimony to me in the Holy Spirit,	1 I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the holy Spirit in bearing me witness
2 because the sadness within me is great, and there is a continuous sorrow in my heart.	2 that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
3 For I was desiring that I myself might be anathemized from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh.	3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh.
4 These are the Israelites, to whom belongs adoption as sons, and the glory and the testament, and the giving and following of the law, and the promises.	4 They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
5 Theirs are the fathers, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all things, blessed God, for all eternity. Amen.	5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not that the Word of God has perished. For not all those who are Israelites are of Israel.	6 But it is not that the word of God has failed. For not all who are of Israel are Israel,
7 And not all sons are the offspring of Abraham: “For your offspring will be invoked in Isaac.”	7 nor are they all children of Abraham because they are his descendants; but "It is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name."
8 In other words, those who are the sons of God are not those who are sons of the flesh, but those who are sons of the Promise; these are considered to be the offspring.	8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.
9 For the word of promise is this: “I will return at the proper time. And there shall be a son for Sarah.”	9 For this is the wording of the promise, "About this time I shall return and Sarah will have a son."
10 And she was not alone. For Rebecca also, having conceived by Isaac our father, from one act,	10 And not only that, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one husband, our father Isaac --
11 when the children had not yet been born, and had not yet done anything good or bad (such that the purpose of God might be based on their choice),	11 before they had yet been born or had done anything, good or bad, in order that God's elective plan might continue,
12 and not because of deeds, but because of a calling, it was said to her: “The elder shall serve the younger.”	12 not by works but by his call--she was told, "The older shall serve the younger."
13 So also it was written: “I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.”	13 As it is written: "I loved Jacob but hated Esau."
14 What should we say next? Is there unfairness with God? Let it not be so!	14 What then are we to say? Is there injustice on the part of God? Of course not!
15 For to Moses he says: “I will pity whomever I pity. And I will offer mercy to whomever I will pity.”	15 For he says to Moses: "I will show mercy to whom I will, I will take pity on whom I will."
16 Therefore, it is not based on those who choose, nor on those who excel, but on God who takes pity.	16 So it depends not upon a person's will or exertion, but upon God, who shows mercy.
17 For Scripture says to the Pharaoh: “I have raised you up for this purpose, so that I may reveal my power by you, and so that my name may be announced to all the earth.”	17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "This is why I have raised you up, to show my power through you that my name may be proclaimed throughout the earth."
18 Therefore, he takes pity on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.	18 Consequently, he has mercy upon whom he wills, and he hardens whom he wills.
19 And so, you would say to me: “Then why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?”	19 You will say to me then, "Why (then) does he still find fault? For who can oppose his will?"
20 O man, who are you to question God? How can the thing that has been formed say to the One who formed him: “Why have you made me this way?”	20 But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is made say to its maker,"Why have you created me so?"
21 And does not the potter have the authority over the clay to make, from the same material, indeed, one vessel unto honor, yet truly another unto disgrace?	21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for a noble purpose and another for an ignoble one?
22 What if God, wanting to reveal his wrath and to make his power known, endured, with much patience, vessels deserving wrath, fit to be destroyed,	22 What if God, wishing to show his wrath and make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction?
23 so that he might reveal the wealth of his glory, within these vessels of mercy, which he has prepared unto glory?	23 This was to make known the riches of his glory to the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared previously for glory,
24 And so it is with those of us whom he has also called, not only from among the Jews, but even from among the Gentiles,	24 namely, us whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.
25 just as he says in Hosea: “I will call those who were not my people, ‘my people,’ and she who was not beloved, ‘beloved,’ and she who had not obtained mercy, ‘one who has obtained mercy.’	25 As indeed he says in Hosea: "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'
26 And this shall be: in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they shall be called the sons of the living God.”	26 And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they shall be called children of the living God."
27 And Isaiah cried out on behalf of Israel: “When the number of the sons of Israel is like the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.	27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the Israelites were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved;
28 For he shall complete his word, while abbreviating it out of equity. For the Lord shall accomplish a brief word upon the earth.”	28 for decisively and quickly will the Lord execute sentence upon the earth."
29 And it is just as Isaiah predicted: “Unless the Lord of hosts had bequeathed offspring, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made similar to Gomorrah.”	29 And as Isaiah predicted: "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom and have been made like Gomorrah."
30 What should we say next? That the Gentiles who did not follow justice have attained justice, even the justice that is of faith.	30 What then shall we say? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have achieved it, that is, righteousness that comes from faith;
31 Yet truly, Israel, though following the law of justice, has not arrived at the law of justice.	31 but that Israel, who pursued the law of righteousness, did not attain to that law?
32 Why is this? Because they did not seek it from faith, but as if it were from works. For they stumbled over a stumbling block,	32 Why not? Because they did it not by faith, but as if it could be done by works. They stumbled over the stone that causes stumbling,
33 just as it was written: “Behold, I am placing a stumbling block in Zion, and a rock of scandal. But whoever believes in him shall not be confounded.”	33 as it is written: "Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion that will make people stumble and a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him shall not be put to shame."