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Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

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.

For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

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:

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.

As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

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:

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

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?

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

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.

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

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.

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

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

It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

(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;)

And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.

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.

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.