⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, ⁷ and not all are children of Abraham ^(A)because they are his offspring, but ^(B)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” ⁸ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but ^(C)the children of the promise are counted as offspring. ⁹ For this is what the promise said: ^(D)“About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” ¹⁰ And not only so, but ^(E)also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of ^(F)him who calls— ¹² she was told, ^(G)“The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, ^(H)“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

¹⁴ What shall we say then? ^(I)Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses, ^(J)“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it depends not on human will or exertion,^[a] but on God, who has mercy.