It is best to take these two verses together, since the quotations in them come from Isaiah 10.22-23. These verses in Hebrew are very difficult, and the Septuagint, which Paul seems to be quoting rather freely, is also quite difficult. In fact, it is likely that the opening words of the quotation from Isaiah are modified on the basis of Paul’s recollection of the passage just quoted from Hosea 1.10. Fortunately, for the purpose of translating the Romans text, verse 27 is not difficult. In the second clause of the quotation in this verse, the words only a few of them (most translations “only a remnant”) are emphatic. The comparison included within a clause of condition is difficult to express succinctly in a number of languages. An equivalent may be “even if the people of Israel are very many, just like the many grains of sand by the sea.”

Verse 28 is literally “for the Lord will do his word on the earth, completing and cutting short.” This verse is difficult, but all modern translations suggest that it refers to God’s judgment rather than to his promise of salvation. In the New English Bible this quotation appears as “for the Lord’s sentence on the land will be summary and final,” and in the Jerusalem Bible as “for without hesitation or delay the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth.” An American Translation* translates as “for the Lord will execute his sentence rigorously and swiftly on the earth,” and the New American Bible has “for quickly and decisively will the Lord execute sentence upon the earth.” A satisfactory equivalent in some languages is “the Lord will soon judge firmly all the people of the world” or “the Lord will quickly, and once and for all, judge all the people on the earth.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .