¹⁸ Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(A)

¹⁹ One of you will say to me:^(B) “Then why does God still blame us?^(C) For who is able to resist his will?”^{(D) 20} But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(E) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(F) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^[a](G)

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling^(A) or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless^(B) and pure, “children of God^(C) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[a](D) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ^(E) that I did not run^(F) or labor in vain.^(G)

⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(A) or you will be judged. The Judge^(B) is standing at the door!^(C)

¹⁶ These people are grumblers^(A) and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires;^(B) they boast^(C) about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.