Once you were not a people. But now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy.

你们从前算不得子民，现在却作了神的子民；从前未曾蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。

“你们从前不是子民，现在却成了上帝的子民；从前未曾蒙怜悯，现在却蒙了怜悯。”

“你们从前不是子民，现在却成了神的子民；从前未曾蒙怜悯，现在却蒙了怜悯。”

从前你们不是上帝的子民，现在却做了祂的子民；从前你们未蒙怜悯，现在却蒙了怜悯。

“你们从前不是子民，现在却是神的子民；从前未蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。”

你们从前不是子民，但如今却是神的子民；从前没有蒙怜悯，但如今却蒙了怜悯。

你們從前算不得子民，現在卻作了神的子民；從前未曾蒙憐恤，現在卻蒙了憐恤。

「你們從前不是子民，現在卻成了上帝的子民；從前未曾蒙憐憫，現在卻蒙了憐憫。」

「你們從前不是子民，現在卻成了神的子民；從前未曾蒙憐憫，現在卻蒙了憐憫。」

從前你們不是上帝的子民，現在卻作了祂的子民；從前你們未蒙憐憫，現在卻蒙了憐憫。

“你們從前不是子民，現在卻是神的子民；從前未蒙憐恤，現在卻蒙了憐恤。”

你們從前不是子民，如今卻是上帝的子民；從前沒有蒙憐恤，如今卻蒙了憐恤。

你們從前不是子民，但如今卻是神的子民；從前沒有蒙憐憫，但如今卻蒙了憐憫。

素非為民、今為上帝民、素未蒙恤、今蒙恤矣、○

汝素非上帝民、今為上帝民、素未沾恩、今已沾恩、

爾素非為民、今為天主之民、昔未蒙憐恤、今已蒙憐恤、○

爾等昔日不成民族、今乃成為天主之民矣；昔日未蒙矜憐、今則已蒙矜憐矣。

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

“ Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Which in time past[ were] not a people, but[ are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.

In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

I will plant her in the land for myself. I will show my love to the one I called Not My Loved One. I will say,‘ You are my people’ to those who were called Not My People. And they will say,‘ You are my God.’ ”

Then the Lord said,“ Name him Lo- Ammi.” Lo- Ammi means Not My People.“ That’s because Israel is no longer my people. And I am no longer their God.“ But the time will come when the people of Israel will be like the sand on the seashore. It can’t be measured or counted. Now it is said about them,‘ You are not my people.’ But at that time they will be called‘ children of the living God.’

So let us boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.

God says in Hosea,“ I will call those who are not my people‘ my people.’ I will call the one who is not my loved one‘ my loved one.’ ”( Hosea 2:23)He also says,“ Once it was said to them,‘ You are not my people.’ In that very place they will be called‘ children of the living God.’ ”( Hosea 1:10)

At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because Israel did not obey.

I used to speak evil things against Jesus. I tried to hurt his followers. I really pushed them around. But God showed me mercy anyway. I did those things without knowing any better. I wasn’t a believer.

Now I want to say something about virgins. I have no direct command from the Lord. But I give my opinion. Because of the Lord’s mercy, I give it as one who can be trusted.

Again I ask,“ Didn’t Israel understand?” First, Moses says,“ I will use people who are not a nation to make you jealous. I will use a nation that has no understanding to make you angry.”( Deuteronomy 32:21)

And if they are chosen by grace, then they can’t work for it. If that were true, grace wouldn’t be grace anymore.What should we say then? The people of Israel did not receive what they wanted so badly. Those Israelites who were chosen did receive it. But the rest of the people were made stubborn.