²³ The Lord said to her,

¹⁶ But I have raised you up^[a] for this very purpose,^(A) that I might show you my power^(B) and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

¹⁹ And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass^(A) in front of you, and I will proclaim my name,^(B) the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.^(C)

⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;^(A) and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good^(A) of those who love him, who^[a] have been called^(B) according to his purpose.^{(C) 29} For those God foreknew^(D) he also predestined^(E) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(F) that he might be the firstborn^(G) among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined,^(H) he also called;^(I) those he called, he also justified;^(J) those he justified, he also glorified.^(K)

¹¹ Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad^(A)—in order that God’s purpose^(B) in election might stand: ¹² not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”^{[a](C) 13} Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[b](D)

¹⁴ What then shall we say?^(E) Is God unjust? Not at all!^{(F) 15} For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.^{(H) 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.”^{[d](I) 18} Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(J)

¹⁹ One of you will say to me:^(K) “Then why does God still blame us?^(L) For who is able to resist his will?”^{(M) 20} But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(N) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(O) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^{[e](P) 21} Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?^(Q)

⁴ For he chose us^(A) in him before the creation of the world^(B) to be holy and blameless^(C) in his sight. In love^{(D) 5} he^[a] predestined^(E) us for adoption to sonship^[b](F) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(G) and will—