Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;

Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

wherefore? because--not by faith, but as by works of law; for they did stumble at the stone of stumbling,

Wherefore? Because [it was] not on the principle of faith, but as of works. They have stumbled at the stumblingstone,