罗马书第九章保罗说他心里对以色列人有极大的悲痛，因为他们有儿子的名分、荣耀、诸约、律法、礼仪、应许，但是他们却不相信耶稣基督，从而失去了这些应有的资格。保罗说虽然如此，但并不是神的话落了空，因为从以色列生的不都是以色列人，也不因为是亚伯拉罕的后裔，就都作亚伯拉罕的儿女，惟独从神所应许的以撒生的才能称为他的后裔。也就是说，肉身所生的儿女不是神的儿女，惟独那应许的儿女才算是儿女。再者，在以撒的双胞胎儿子出生前，神就对利百加说：“将来大的要服事小的。雅各是我所爱的，以扫是我所恶的”。可见，谁得救谁不得救，不在于人的行为，只在于召人的主。神这样做，并没有什么不公平，因为神要怜悯谁就怜悯谁，要叫谁刚硬就叫谁刚硬。受造之物岂能对造他的抱怨为什么自己被如此受造呢？窑匠难道没有权柄，从一团泥里拿一块作成贵重的器皿，又拿一块作成卑贱的器皿吗？保罗最后说，据此看来这不在于人的意愿，也不在于人的行为，而只在于那发怜悯的神。

罗9:2 我是大有忧愁、心里时常伤痛。
that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
罗9:3 为我弟兄、我骨肉之亲、就是自己被咒诅、与基督分离、我也愿意。
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers' sake, my relatives according to the flesh,
罗9:4 他们是以色列人．那儿子的名分、荣耀、诸约、律法、礼仪、应许、都是他们的．
who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises;
罗9:5 列祖就是他们的祖宗、按肉体说、基督也是从他们出来的、他是在万有之上、永远可称颂的 神。阿们。
of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.
罗9:6 这不是说 神的话落了空．因为从以色列生的、不都是以色列人．
But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.
罗9:7 也不因为是亚伯拉罕的后裔、就都作他的儿女．惟独『从以撒生的、才要称为你的后裔。』
Neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children. But, "In Isaac will your seed be called."
罗9:8 这就是说、肉身所生的儿女、不是 神的儿女．惟独那应许的儿女、才算是后裔。
That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as a seed.
罗9:9 因为所应许的话是这样说、『到明年这时候我要来、撒拉必生一个儿子。』
For this is a word of promise, "At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son."
罗9:10 不但如此、还有利百加、既从一个人、就是从我们的祖宗以撒怀了孕．
Not only so, but Rebecca also conceived by one, by our father Isaac.
罗9:11 （双子还没有生下来、善恶还没有作出来、只因要显明 神拣选人的旨意、不在乎人的行为、乃在乎召人的主)
For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,
罗9:12 神就对利百加说、『将来大的要服事小的。』
it was said to her, "The elder will serve the younger."
罗9:13 正如经上所记、『雅各是我所爱的、以扫是我所恶的。』
Even as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
罗9:14 这样、我们可说甚么呢．难道 神有甚么不公平么．断乎没有。
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!
罗9:15 因他对摩西说、『我要怜悯谁、就怜悯谁、要恩待谁、就恩待谁。』
For he said to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
罗9:16 据此看来、这不在乎那定意的、也不在乎那奔跑的、只在乎发怜悯的 神。
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.
罗9:17 因为经上有话向法老说、『我将你兴起来、特要在你身上彰显我的权能、并要使我的名传遍天下。』
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
罗9:18 如此看来、 神要怜悯谁、就怜悯谁、要叫谁刚硬、就叫谁刚硬。
So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
罗9:19 这样、你必对我说、他为甚么还指责人呢．有谁抗拒他的旨意呢。
You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who withstands his will?"
罗9:20 你这个人哪、你是谁、竟敢向 神强嘴呢．受造之物岂能对造他的说、你为甚么这样造我呢。
But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"
罗9:21 窑匠难道没有权柄、从一团泥里拿一块作成贵重的器皿、又拿一块作成卑贱的器皿么。
Or hasn't the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?
罗9:22 倘若 神要显明他的忿怒、彰显他的权能、就多多忍耐宽容那可怒预备遭毁灭的器皿．
What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction,
罗9:23 又要将他丰盛的荣耀、彰显在那蒙怜悯早预备得荣耀的器皿上．
and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he prepared beforehand for glory,