Romans 11:1-10

1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah — how he pleads with God against Israel?

3Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life!

4But what was God’s answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

5In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.

6Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.

7What then? Israel did not find what it was looking for, but the elect did find it. The rest were hardened,

8as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, to this day.

9And David says, Let their table become a snare and a trap, a pitfall and a retribution to them.

10Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and their backs be bent continually.