1 D igo la verdad en Cristo, no miento, dándome testimonio mi conciencia en el Espíritu Santo,

I am speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying; my conscience by the Holy Spirit bearing witness with me

2 d e que tengo gran tristeza y continuo dolor en mi corazón.

That I have bitter grief and incessant anguish in my heart.

3 P orque desearía yo mismo ser anatema (maldito), separado de Cristo por amor a mis hermanos, mis parientes (los de mi raza) según la carne.

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off and banished from Christ for the sake of my brethren and instead of them, my natural kinsmen and my fellow countrymen.

4 P orque son Israelitas, a quienes pertenece la adopción como hijos, y la gloria, los pactos, la promulgación de la ley, el culto y las promesas,

For they are Israelites, and to them belong God’s adoption and the glorious Presence (Shekinah). With them were the special covenants made, to them was the Law given. To them worship was revealed and promises announced.

5 d e quienes son los patriarcas, y de quienes, según la carne, procede el Cristo (el Mesías), el cual está sobre todas las cosas, Dios bendito por los siglos. Amén.

To them belong the patriarchs, and as far as His natural descent was concerned, from them is the Christ, Who is exalted and supreme over all, God, blessed forever! Amen (so let it be).

6 P ero no es que la palabra de Dios haya fallado. Porque no todos los descendientes de Israel son Israel;

However, it is not as though God’s Word had failed. For it is not everybody who is a descendant of Jacob (Israel) who belongs to Israel.

7 n i son todos hijos por ser descendientes de Abraham, sino que “por Isaac sera llamada tu descendencia.”

And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, Your descendants will be called and counted through the line of Isaac.

8 E sto es, no son los hijos de la carne los que son hijos de Dios, sino que los hijos de la promesa son considerados como descendientes.

That is to say, it is not the children of the body who are made God’s children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted descendants.

9 P orque la palabra de promesa es ésta: “ Por este tiempo volvere, y Sara tendra un hijo.”

For this is what the promise said, About this time will I return and Sarah shall have a son.

10 Y no sólo esto, sino que también Rebeca concibió mellizos de uno, nuestro padre Isaac.

And not only that, but this too: Rebecca conceived by our forefather Isaac,

11 P orque cuando aún los mellizos no habían nacido, y no habían hecho nada, ni bueno ni malo, para que el propósito de Dios conforme a Su elección permaneciera, no por las obras, sino por Aquél que llama,

And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order further to carry out God’s purpose of selection (election, choice), which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him Who calls,

12 s e le dijo a Rebeca: “ El mayor servira al menor.”

It was said to her that the elder should serve the younger.

13 T al como está escrito: “A Jacob ame, pero a Esau aborreci.” Dios no es Injusto

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (held in relative disregard in comparison with My feeling for Jacob).

14 ¿ Qué diremos entonces ? ¿Que hay injusticia en Dios ? ¡De ningún modo!

What shall we conclude then? Is there injustice upon God’s part? Certainly not!

15 P orque El dice a Moisés: “ Tendre misericordia del que Yo tenga misericordia, y tendre compasion del que Yo tenga compasion.”

For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion (pity) on whom I will have compassion.

16 A sí que no depende del que quiere ni del que corre, sino de Dios que tiene misericordia.

So then is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy.

17 P orque la Escritura dice a Faraón: “ Para esto mismo te he levantado, para demostrar Mi poder en ti, y para que Mi nombre sea proclamado por toda la tierra.”

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, I have raised you up for this very purpose of displaying My power in you, so that My name may be proclaimed the whole world over.

18 A sí que Dios tiene misericordia, del que quiere y al que quiere endurece.

So then He has mercy on whomever He wills (chooses) and He hardens (makes stubborn and unyielding the heart of) whomever He wills.

19 M e dirás entonces: “¿Por qué, pues, todavía reprocha Dios ? Porque ¿quién resiste a Su voluntad ?”

You will say to me, Why then does He still find fault and blame us ? For who can resist and withstand His will?

20 A l contrario, ¿quién eres tú, oh hombre, que le contestas a Dios ? ¿Dirá acaso el objeto modelado al que lo modela: “Por qué me hiciste así ?”

But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus?

21 ¿ O no tiene el alfarero derecho sobre el barro de hacer de la misma masa un vaso para uso honorable y otro para uso ordinario?

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use?

22 ¿ Y qué, si Dios, aunque dispuesto a demostrar Su ira y hacer notorio Su poder, soportó con mucha paciencia a los vasos de ira preparados para destrucción ?

What if God, although fully intending to show His wrath and to make known His power and authority, has tolerated with much patience the vessels (objects) of anger which are ripe for destruction?

23 L o hizo para dar a conocer las riquezas de Su gloria sobre los vasos de misericordia, que de antemano El preparó para gloria,

And He thus purposes to make known and show the wealth of His glory in the vessels (objects) of His mercy which He has prepared beforehand for glory,

24 e s decir, nosotros, a quienes también llamó, no sólo de entre los Judíos, sino también de entre los Gentiles.

Even including ourselves whom He has called, not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles (heathen)?

25 C omo también dice en Oseas: “A los que no eran Mi pueblo, llamare: ‘pueblo Mio,’ y a la que no era amada: ‘amada Mia.’

Just as He says in Hosea, Those who were not My people I will call My people, and her who was not beloved My beloved.

26 Y sucedera que en el lugar donde se les dijo: ‘Ustedes no son Mi pueblo,’ alli seran llamados hijos del Dios viviente.”

And it shall be that in the very place where it was said to them, You are not My people, they shall be called sons of the living God.

27 I saías también exclama en cuanto a Israel: “ Aunque el numero de los hijos de Israel sea como la arena del mar, sólo el remanente sera salvo;

And Isaiah calls out (solemnly cries aloud) over Israel: Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, only the remnant (a small part of them) will be saved '> from perdition, condemnation, judgment]!

28 p orque el Señor ejecutara Su palabra sobre la tierra cabalmente y con brevedad.”

For the Lord will execute His sentence upon the earth, rigorously cutting it short in His justice.

29 Y como Isaías predijo: “ Si el Señor de los ejercitos no nos hubiera dejado descendencia, hubieramos llegado a ser como Sodoma, y hechos semejantes a Gomorra.” Razón del Tropiezo de Israel

It is as Isaiah predicted, If the Lord of hosts had not left us a seed, we would have fared like Sodom and have been made like Gomorrah.

30 ¿ Qué diremos entonces ? Que los Gentiles, que no iban tras la justicia, alcanzaron justicia, es decir, la justicia que es por fe;

What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did not follow after righteousness have attained it by faith,

31 p ero Israel, que iba tras una ley de justicia, no alcanzó esa ley.

Whereas Israel, though ever in pursuit of a law of righteousness (right standing with God), actually did not succeed in fulfilling the Law.

32 ¿ Por qué? Porque no iban tras ella por fe, sino como por obras. Tropezaron en la piedra de tropiezo,

For what reason? Because not through faith, relying on the merit of their works. They have stumbled over the Stumbling Stone.

33 t al como está escrito: “ He aqui, pongo en Sion una piedra de tropiezo y roca de escandalo; y el que crea en El no sera avergonzado.”

As it is written, Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone that will make men stumble, a Rock that will make them fall; but he who believes in Him shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations.