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 him who calls—

双子还没有生下来，善恶还没有做出来，只因要显明神拣选人的旨意，不在乎人的行为，乃在乎召人的主。）

双胞胎还没有生下来，善恶还没有行出来，为要贯彻上帝拣选人的旨意，

双胞胎还没有生下来，善恶还没有行出来，为要贯彻神拣选人的旨意，

在这对孩子还未出生，还没有显出谁善谁恶之前，上帝为了显明自己拣选人并不是按人的行为，而是按祂自己的旨意，

双生子还没有生下来，善恶也没有行出来（为要坚定神拣选人的旨意，不是由于行为，而是由于那呼召者），

实际上，双子还没有出生，也没有行善或作恶以前——为了要显明神的拣选心意不是本于人的行为，而是出于召唤人的那一位——

雙子還沒有生下來，善惡還沒有做出來，只因要顯明神揀選人的旨意，不在乎人的行為，乃在乎召人的主。）

雙胞胎還沒有生下來，善惡還沒有行出來，為要貫徹上帝揀選人的旨意，

雙胞胎還沒有生下來，善惡還沒有行出來，為要貫徹神揀選人的旨意，

在這對孩子還未出生，還沒有顯出誰善誰惡之前，上帝為了顯明自己揀選人並不是按人的行為，而是按祂自己的旨意，

雙生子還沒有生下來，善惡也沒有行出來（為要堅定神揀選人的旨意，不是由於行為，而是由於那呼召者），

在雙子還沒生下來、好壞還沒作出來時（為要使上帝按揀選的定旨得以堅立，不是由於人的行為，乃是由於上帝的呼召），

實際上，雙子還沒有出生，也沒有行善或作惡以前——為了要顯明神的揀選心意不是本於人的行為，而是出於召喚人的那一位——

二子未生、善惡未形、俾上帝選人之旨不移、非由乎行、乃由乎召之者、

子未生善惡未形、而上帝選人之旨不移、其選之也、非由所行、乃由所召、

子尚未生、未行善惡、而語利伯加云、長子必事幼子、以示天主選人之旨、非由行事、乃由召者、

當時二子尚未出生、善惡未形、而天主欲明示簡選之不憑人力、惟憑恩旨也、

Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad— in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:

Here is what happened. Rebekah’s twins had not even been born. They hadn’t done anything good or bad yet. So they show that God’s purpose is based firmly on his free choice.

But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God.( This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes;

For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—

for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,

( for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),

for the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,

For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—

( For[ the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

even before they were born or had done anything good or bad( so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling)–

For being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls,

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In lovehe predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christas a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

as it is written,“ I have made you the father of many nations”— in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

The Lord of hosts has sworn:“ As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.

The land trembles and writhes in pain, for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.

we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying,‘ My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.