But I ask, have they ¹  not heard? ²  Yes, they have: ³  Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. ⁴ 

Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being ¹  shown up as a liar, ²  just as it is written: “so that you will be justified ³  in your words and will prevail when you are judged.” ⁴ 

But the statement it was credited to him ¹  was not written only for Abraham’s ²  sake,

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, ¹  but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds ¹  of the naive.

“Their mouths are ¹  full of cursing and bitterness.” ² 

Actually, there are many advantages. ¹  First of all, ²  the Jews ³  were entrusted with the oracles of God. ⁴ 

just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” ¹ 

Therefore do not let what you consider good ¹  be spoken of as evil.

For just as it is written, “the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” ¹ 

For even Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” ¹ 

This means ¹  it is not the children of the flesh ²  who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.

But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ¹  ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” ²  (that is, to bring Christ down)

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) ¹  For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.