Romans

上帝揀選以色列人

1我在基督裏說真話，並不謊言，有我良心被聖靈感動，給我作見證：

2我是大有憂愁，心裏時常傷痛；

3為我弟兄，我骨肉之親，就是自己被咒詛，與基督分離，我也願意。

4他們是以色列人；那兒子的名分、榮耀、諸約、律法、禮儀、應許都是他們的。

5列祖就是他們的祖宗；按肉體說，基督也是從他們出來的。他是在萬有之上，永遠可稱頌的上帝。阿們！

6這不是說上帝的話落了空。因為從以色列生的不都是以色列人，

7也不因為是亞伯拉罕的後裔就都作他的兒女；惟獨「從以撒生的才要稱為你的後裔。」

8這就是說，肉身所生的兒女不是上帝的兒女，惟獨那應許的兒女才算是後裔。

9因為所應許的話是這樣說：「到明年這時候我要來，撒拉必生一個兒子。」

10不但如此，還有利百加，既從一個人，就是從我們的祖宗以撒懷了孕，（

11雙子還沒有生下來，善惡還沒有做出來，只因要顯明上帝揀選人的旨意，不在乎人的行為，乃在乎召人的主。）

12上帝就對利百加說：「將來，大的要服事小的。」

13正如經上所記：雅各是我所愛的；以掃是我所惡的。

14這樣，我們可說甚麼呢？難道上帝有甚麼不公平嗎？斷乎沒有！

15因他對摩西說：我要憐憫誰就憐憫誰， 要恩待誰就恩待誰。

16據此看來，這不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎發憐憫的上帝。

17因為經上有話向法老說：「我將你興起來，特要在你身上彰顯我的權能，並要使我的名傳遍天下。」

18如此看來，上帝要憐憫誰就憐憫誰，要叫誰剛硬就叫誰剛硬。

上帝的忿怒和憐憫

19這樣，你必對我說：「他為甚麼還指責人呢？有誰抗拒他的旨意呢？」

20你這個人哪，你是誰，竟敢向上帝強嘴呢？受造之物豈能對造他的說：「你為甚麼這樣造我呢？」

21窯匠難道沒有權柄從一團泥裏拿一塊做成貴重的器皿，又拿一塊做成卑賤的器皿嗎？

22倘若上帝要顯明他的忿怒，彰顯他的權能，就多多忍耐寬容那可怒、預備遭毀滅的器皿，

23又要將他豐盛的榮耀彰顯在那蒙憐憫、早預備得榮耀的器皿上。

24這器皿就是我們被上帝所召的，不但是從猶太人中，也是從外邦人中。這有甚麼不可呢？

25就像上帝在何西阿書上說：那本來不是我子民的， 我要稱為「我的子民」； 本來不是蒙愛的， 我要稱為「蒙愛的」。

26從前在甚麼地方對他們說： 你們不是我的子民， 將來就在那裏稱他們為「永生上帝的兒子」。

27以賽亞指着以色列人喊着說：「以色列人雖多如海沙，得救的不過是剩下的餘數；

28因為主要在世上施行他的話，叫他的話都成全，速速地完結。」

29又如以賽亞先前說過：若不是萬軍之主給我們存留餘種， 我們早已像所多瑪、蛾摩拉的樣子了。

以色列人和福音

30這樣，我們可說甚麼呢？那本來不追求義的外邦人反得了義，就是因信而得的義。

31但以色列人追求律法的義，反得不着律法的義。

32這是甚麼緣故呢？是因為他們不憑着信心求，只憑着行為求；他們正跌在那絆腳石上。

33就如經上所記：我在錫安放一塊絆腳的石頭，跌人的磐石； 信靠他的人必不至於羞愧。

1I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost:

2That I have great sadness, and continual sorrow in my heart.

3For I wished myself to be an anathema from Christ, for my brethren, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh,

4Who are Israelites, to whom belongeth the adoption as of children, and the glory, and the testament, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises:

5Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ, according to the flesh, who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6Not as though the word of God hath miscarried. For all are not Israelites that are of Israel:

7Neither are all they that are the seed of Abraham, children; but in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

8That is to say, not they that are the children of the flesh, are the children of God; buy they, that are the children of the promise, are accounted for the seed.

9For this is the word of promise: According to this time will I come; and Sara shall have a son.

10And not only she. But when Rebecca also had conceived at once, of Isaac our father.

11For when the children were not yet born, nor had done any good or evil (that the purpose of God, according to election, might stand,)

12Not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger.

13As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.

14What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? God forbid.

15For he saith to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy; and I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy.

16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17For the scripture saith to Pharao: To this purpose have I raised thee, that I may shew my power in thee, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

18Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will; and whom he will, he hardeneth.

19Thou wilt say therefore to me: Why doth he then find fault? for who resisteth his will?

20O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it: Why hast thou made me thus?

21Or hath 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 patience vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction,

23That he might shew the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he hath prepared unto glory?

24Even us, whom also he hath called, nor only of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles.

25As in Osee he saith: I will call that which was not my people, my people; and her that was not beloved, beloved; and her that had not obtained mercy, one that hath obtained mercy.

26And it shall be, in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people; there they shall be called the sons of the living God.

27And Isaias crieth out concerning Israel: If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.

28For he shall finish his word, and cut it short in justice; because a short word shall the Lord make upon the earth.

29And as Isaias foretold: Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been made as Sodom, and we had been like unto Gomorrha.

30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who followed not after justice, have attained to justice, even the justice that is of faith.

31But Israel, by following after the law of justice, is not come unto the law of justice.

32Why so? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were of works. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone.

33As it is written: Behold I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and a rock of scandal; and whosoever believeth in him shall not be confounded.