¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’^(A)

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)

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

²² What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience^(L) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?^{(M) 23} What if he did this to make the riches of his glory^(N) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory^(O)— ²⁴ even us, whom he also called,^(P) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?^(Q)

⁹ Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,^(A) is near,” so that you do not show ill will^(B) toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.^(C)

²² adultery, greed,^(A) malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[a] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.^{(A) 2} He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew^(B) that you are a gracious^(C) and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love,^(D) a God who relents^(E) from sending calamity.^{(F) 3} Now, Lord, take away my life,^(G) for it is better for me to die^(H) than to live.”^(I)

⁴ But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”^(J)

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^(A)

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[a] having been predestined^(A) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(B) of his will,

⁷ For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?^(A) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?