Romans 9:8-22
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 9
8That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 9For this is the word of promise: 'AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH WILL HAVE A SON.' 10And not only that, but there was also Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12it was said to her, 'THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.' 13Just as it is written: 'JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED.'
14What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? Far from it!
15For He says to Moses, 'I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL SHOW COMPASSION TO WHOMEVER I SHOW COMPASSION.'
16So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.
17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'FOR THIS VERY REASON I RAISED YOU UP, IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE EARTH.'
18So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
19You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?'
20On the contrary, who are you, you foolish person, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, 'Why did you make me like this,' will it?
21Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object for honorable use, and another for common use?
22What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction?
King James Version
Chapter 9
8That 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. 9For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11For 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;) 12It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15For 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.
16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17For 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.
18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20Nay 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?
21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 9
8That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but the children of the promise are considered to be the offspring. 9For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son. 10And not only that, but Rebekah conceived children through one man, our father Isaac. 11For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand— 12not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger. 13As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.
14What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!
15For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
17For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
18So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19You will say to me, therefore, "Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"
20But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"
21Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?
22And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction?
New Living Translation
Chapter 9
8This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. 9For God had promised, 'I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.'
10This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins.
11But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;
12he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, 'Your older son will serve your younger son.'
13In the words of the Scriptures, 'I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.'
17For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, 'I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.'
18So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.
20No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, 'Why have you made me like this?'
21When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?
22In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction.
English Standard Version
Chapter 9
8This 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 offspring. 9For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." 10And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad — in order that God 's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls — 12she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
14What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God 's part? By no means!
15For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
16So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
18So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"
20But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
21Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
New International Version
Chapter 9
8In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
10Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.
11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:
12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger."
13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
16It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
17For 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."
18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?"
20But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ "
21Does 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?
New King James Version
Chapter 9
8That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”
10And not only this, but when 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 Him who calls),
12it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”
13As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
14What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!
15For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
16So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
17For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “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.”
18Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
19You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”
20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
21Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
