¹³ For ^(A)the promise to Abraham or to his ^[a]descendants ^(B)that he would be heir of the world was not ^[b]through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.

¹⁶ For this reason it is ^[a]by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with ^(A)grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ^(B)all the ^[b]descendants, not only to ^[c]those who are of the Law, but also to ^[d](C)those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is ^(D)the father of us all,

⁷ nor are they all children ^(A)because they are Abraham’s ^[a](B)descendants, but: “^[b](C)through Isaac your ^[c]descendants shall be named.” ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh ^[d]who are ^(D)children of God, but the ^(E)children of the promise are regarded as ^[e](F)descendants. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: “^(G)At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.” ^10 (H)And not only that, but there was also ^(I)Rebekah, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; ¹¹ for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that ^(J)God’s purpose according to His choice would ^[f]stand, not ^[g]because of works but ^[h]because of Him who calls, ¹² it was said to her, “^(K)The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ Just as it is written: “^(L)Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

^14 (M)What shall we say then? ^(N)There is no injustice with God, is there? ^[i](O)Far from it! ¹⁵ For He says to Moses, “^(P)I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.” ¹⁶ So then, it does not depend on the person who ^[j]wants it nor the one who ^[k](Q)runs, but on ^(R)God who has mercy. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “^(S)For this very reason I raised you up, in order to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed ^[l]throughout the earth.” ¹⁸ So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He ^(T)hardens whom He desires.

^19 (U)You will say to me then, “^(V)Why does He still find fault? For ^(W)who has resisted His will?” ²⁰ On the contrary, who are you, ^[m](X)you foolish person, who ^(Y)answers back to God? ^(Z)The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? ²¹ Or does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object ^[n]for honorable use, and another ^[o]for common use? ^22 [p]What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great ^(AA)patience objects of wrath ^(AB)prepared for destruction? ²³ And He did so to make known ^(AC)the riches of His glory upon ^(AD)objects of mercy, which He ^(AE)prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ namely us, whom He also ^(AF)called, ^(AG)not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles, ²⁵ as He also says in Hosea:

²⁷ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “^(AK)Though the number of the sons of Israel may be ^(AL)like the sand of the sea, only ^(AM)the remnant will be saved; ^28 (AN)for the Lord will execute His word on the earth, ^[q]thoroughly and ^[r]quickly.” ²⁹ And just as Isaiah foretold:

^30 (AS)What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but ^(AT)the righteousness that is ^[v]by faith; ³¹ however, Israel, ^(AU)pursuing a law of righteousness, did not ^(AV)arrive at that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it ^[w]by faith, but as though they could ^[x]by works. They stumbled over ^(AW)the stumbling stone, ³³ just as it is written:

Israel Has Not Been Rejected

11 I say then, God has not ^(A)rejected His people, has He? ^[a](B)Far from it! For ^(C)I too am an Israelite, ^[b]a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.