¹⁶ So it depends not on human will or exertion but on God who shows mercy.

¹² But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,^{(A) 13} who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.^(B)

³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.^{(A) 4} But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,^{(B) 5} he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water^[a] of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.^(C)

¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

⁴ but God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us^{(A) 5} even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ^[a]—by grace you have been saved—

²⁶ Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards,^[a] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.^{(A) 27} But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;^{(B) 28} God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, ²⁹ so that no one^[b] might boast in the presence of God.^{(C) 30} In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,^{(D) 31} in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in^[c] the Lord.”^(E)

¹¹ even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue,

⁸ The wind^[a] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”^(A)

Jesus Rejoices

²¹ At that very hour Jesus^[a] rejoiced in the Holy Spirit^[b] and said, “I thank^[c] you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.^[d](A)