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,

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.

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—

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 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,

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In loveHe predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him,regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will,

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

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.

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

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters;and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

The Lord of armies has sworn, saying,“ Certainly, just as I have intended, so it has happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand,

This is the plan devised against the entire earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations.For the Lord of armies has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched out hand, who can turn it back?”

The Lord of armies has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty, To despise all the honored of the earth.

So the land quakes and writhes, For the plans of the Lord against Babylon stand, To make the land of Babylon A desolation without inhabitants.

so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Behold, I was brought forth in guilt, And in sin my mother conceived me.

knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you;

Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying,‘ My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a distant country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, I will certainly do it.