Romans 8:20

New International Reader's Version

The created world was held back from fulfilling its purpose. But this was not the result of its own choice. It was planned that way by the one who held it back. God planned

Cross References

Genesis 5:29

and named him Noah. Lamech said, “He will comfort us when we are working. He’ll comfort us when our hands work so hard they hurt. We have to work hard because the Lord put a curse on the ground.”

Genesis 6:13

So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to everyone. They have filled the earth with their harmful acts. I am certainly going to destroy them and the earth.

Psalm 39:5

You have given me only a few days to live. My whole life doesn’t seem like anything to you. No one lasts any longer than a breath. This is true even for those who feel secure.

Ecclesiastes 1:2

“Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is completely meaningless! Nothing has any meaning.”

Jeremiah 12:11

My vineyard will become a desert. It will be dry and empty in my sight. The whole land will be completely destroyed. And no one even cares.

Jeremiah 12:4

How long will the land be thirsty for water? How long will the grass in every field be dry? The people who live in the land are evil. So the animals and birds have died. And that’s not all. The people are saying, “The Lord won’t see what happens to us.”

Hosea 4:3

That is why the land is drying up. All those who live in it are getting weaker and weaker. The wild animals and the birds in the sky are dying. So are the fish in the ocean.

Joel 1:18

Listen to the cattle groan! The herds wander around. They don’t have any grass to eat. The flocks of sheep are also suffering.

Romans 8:22

We know that all that God created has been groaning. It is in pain as if it were giving birth to a child. The created world continues to groan even now.

Romans 8:24

That’s the hope we had when we were saved. But hope that can be seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?