⁶ He made the atonement cover^(A) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. ⁷ Then he made two cherubim^(B) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ⁸ He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. ⁹ The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing^(C) the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.^(D)

¹⁵ For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.^{(B) 17} For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”^{[b](C) 18} Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(D)