¹¹ and though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything either good or bad, so that God’s purpose [His choice, His election] would stand, not because of works [done by either child], but because of [the plan of] Him who calls them, ¹² it was said to her, “The ^[a]older (Esau) will serve the ^[b]younger (Jacob).”^{(A) 13} As it is written and forever remains written, “^[c]Jacob I loved (chose, protected, blessed), but ^[d]Esau I hated (held in disregard compared to Jacob).”^(B)

¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Certainly not! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I have compassion.”^{(C) 16} So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses—it is His sovereign gift]. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very purpose, to display My power in [dealing with] you, and so that My name would be proclaimed in all the earth.”^{(D) 18} So then, He has mercy on whom He wills (chooses), and He hardens [the heart of] whom He wills.

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?” ²⁰ On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”^{(E) 21} Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump [of clay] one object for honorable use [something beautiful or distinctive] and another for common use [something ordinary or menial]? ²² What if God, although willing to show His [terrible] wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of His wrath [which are] prepared for destruction?^(F)