^26 (A)So if ^(B)the ^[a]uncircumcised man ^(C)keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? ²⁷ And ^(D)he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not ^(E)judge you who ^[b]though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator ^[c]of the Law? ²⁸ For ^(F)he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. ²⁹ But ^(G)he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and ^(H)circumcision is of the heart, by the ^(I)Spirit, not by the letter; ^(J)and his praise is not from people, but from God.

Deep Concern for Israel

9 ^(A)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 ^(B)I could ^[a]wish that I myself were ^(C)accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my countrymen, my kinsmen ^(D)according to the flesh, ⁴ who are ^(E)Israelites, to whom belongs ^(F)the adoption as sons and daughters, ^(G)the glory, ^(H)the covenants, ^(I)the giving of the Law, ^(J)the temple service, and ^(K)the promises; ⁵ whose are ^(L)the fathers, and ^(M)from whom is the ^[b]Christ according to the flesh, ^(N)who is over all, ^(O)God ^(P)blessed ^[c]forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though ^(Q)the word of God has failed. ^(R)For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; ⁷ nor are they all children ^(S)because they are Abraham’s ^[d](T)descendants, but: “^[e](U)through Isaac your ^[f]descendants shall be named.” ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh ^[g]who are ^(V)children of God, but the ^(W)children of the promise are regarded as ^[h](X)descendants. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: “^(Y)At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” ^10 (Z)And not only that, but there was also ^(AA)Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; ¹¹ for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that ^(AB)God’s purpose according to His choice would ^[i]stand, not ^[j]because of works but ^[k]because of Him who calls, ¹² it was said to her, “^(AC)The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ Just as it is written: “^(AD)Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

^14 (AE)What shall we say then? ^(AF)There is no injustice with God, is there? ^[l](AG)Far from it! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “^(AH)I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.” ¹⁶ So then, it does not depend on the person who ^[m]wants it nor the one who ^[n](AI)runs, but on ^(AJ)God who has mercy.

⁸ For ^(A)by grace you have been saved ^(B)through faith; and ^[a]this is not of yourselves, it is ^(C)the gift of God; ^9 (D)not a result of works, so that ^(E)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(F)created in ^(G)Christ Jesus for ^(H)good works, which God ^(I)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(J)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(K)previously ^(L)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(M)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(N)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[b](O)excluded from ^[c]the people of Israel, and strangers to ^(P)the covenants of the promise, having ^(Q)no hope and ^(R)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(S)Christ Jesus you who ^(T)previously were ^(U)far away ^[d]have ^(V)been brought near ^[e](W)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(X)our peace, ^(Y)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[f]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [g]by ^(Z)abolishing ^[h]in His flesh the hostility, which is ^(AA)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[i](AB)make the two ^(AC)one new person, in this way establishing ^(AD)peace; ¹⁶ and that He might ^(AE)reconcile them both in ^(AF)one body to God through the cross, ^[j]by it having ^(AG)put to death the hostility. ¹⁷ And ^(AH)He came and preached ^(AI)peace to you who were ^(AJ)far away, and peace to those who were ^(AK)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(AL)our access in ^(AM)one Spirit to ^(AN)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(AO)strangers and foreigners, but you are ^(AP)fellow citizens with the ^[k]saints, and are of ^(AQ)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(AR)built on ^(AS)the foundation of ^(AT)the apostles and prophets, ^(AU)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(AV)cornerstone, ^21 (AW)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(AX)a holy ^[l]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(AY)built together into a ^(AZ)dwelling of God in the Spirit.