羅馬書 9
1 我在基督內說實話，並不說謊，有我的良心在聖神內與我一同作證：
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 我的憂愁極，大我心中不斷的痛苦；
that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
3 為救我的弟兄，我血統的同胞，就是被詛咒，與基督隔絕，我也甘心情願。
For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren’s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 他們是以色列人：義子的名份、光榮、盟約、法律、禮儀以及恩許，都是他們的；
who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;
whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
6 這並不是說天主的話落了空，因為不是凡從以色列生的，都是真以色列人；
But [it is] not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:
7 也不是凡是亞巴郎的後裔，就都是他的真子女，而是『由依撒格所生的，才稱為你的後裔，』
neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 即是說：不是血統上的子女，算是天主的子女，而是藉恩許所生的子女，才算為真後裔。
That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.
9 原來恩許是這樣說的：『到明年這時候我要來，撒辣必有一個兒子。』
For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
10 並且關於黎貝加也有相似的事。她從我們的先祖依撒格一人懷了孕；
And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac—
11 當時雙胎還沒有出生，也沒有行善或作惡；但為使天主預簡的計畫堅定不移，
for [the children] 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 that calleth,
12 且為顥示這計畫並不憑人的行為，而只憑天主的召選，遂有話給她說：『年長的要服事年幼的。』
it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 正如經上記載：『我愛了雅各伯而恨了厄撒烏。』
Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.
14 那麼，我們可說什麼呢？難道天主不公道嗎？絕對不是!
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 因為祂對梅瑟說過：『我要恩待的，就恩待；我要憐憫的，就憐憫。』
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
16 這樣看來，蒙召並不在乎人願意，也不在乎人努力，而是由於天主的仁慈，
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.
17 因為經上有話對法郎說：『我特興起了你，是為在你身上彰顯我的大能，並為使我的名傳遍全世界。』
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.
18 這樣看來，祂願意恩待誰，就恩待誰；祂願意使誰心硬，就使誰心硬。
So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 或者，你要問我說：既是這樣，為什麼祂要責怪人呢？有誰能抗拒祂的意志呢？
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?
20 人呀! 你是誰，竟敢向天主抗辯？製造品豈能對製造者說：你為什麼這樣製造了我？
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?
21 難道陶工不能隨意用一團泥，把這一個作成貴重的器皿，把那一個作成卑賤的器皿嗎？
Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?
22 如果天主願意顯示自己的義怒，並彰顯自己的威能，曾以寬宏大量，容忍了那些惹祂發怒而應毀滅的器皿；
What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:
23 祂如此作，是為把祂那豐富的光榮，在那些祂早已準備好，為進入光榮而蒙憐憫的器冊上彰顯出來，又有什麼不可能呢？
and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,
24 這些器皿就是我們這些不但從猶太人中，而且也從外邦人中被天主所寵召的人。
[even] us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
25 這正如天主在歐瑟亞書中所說的：『我要叫「非我人民」為「我的人民」，又叫「不蒙愛憐者」為「蒙愛憐者」；
As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved.
26 人在那裡對他們說：你們不是我的人民，在同樣的地方，他們要被稱為永生天主的子女。』
And it shall be, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God.
27 論到以色列，依撒意亞卻呼喊說：『以色列子民的數目雖煞多如海沙，唯有殘存者要蒙受救恩，
And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:
28 因為上主在大地上，要徹底迅速完成祂的判決。』
for the Lord will execute [his] word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.
29 依撒意亞又預言過：『若非萬軍的上主給我們留下苖裔，我們早已如同索多瑪，相似哈摩辣了。』
And, as Isaiah hath said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah.
30 那麼，我們可說什麼呢？外邦人沒有追求正義，卻獲得了正義，即由信仰而得的正義；
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
31 以色列人追求使人成義的法律，卻沒有得到這種法律，
but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at [that] law.
32 這是為什麼呢？是因為他們不憑信仰，只憑著行為追求。他們正碰在那塊絆腳石上，
Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;
33 正如經上所載：『看，我在熙雍按放了一塊絆腳石，一塊使人絆跌的盤石；相信他的人，不致蒙羞。』
even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
