1. I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
2. that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
3. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
4. who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
5. whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
6. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
7. nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through Isaac your descendants will be named."
8. That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
9. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son."
10. And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;