1 I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
2 I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,
4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.
6 It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
8 So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.
9 For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.
11 Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
12 not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”