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.

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:

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 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,

God chose us to belong to Christ before the world was created. He chose us to be holy and without blame in his eyes. He loved us.So he decided long ago to adopt us. He adopted us as his children with all the rights children have. He did it because of what Jesus Christ has done. It pleased God to do it.

he showed us the mystery of his plan. It was in keeping with what he wanted to do. It was what he had planned through Christ.It will all come about when history has been completed. God will then bring together all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.We were also chosen to belong to him. God decided to choose us long ago in keeping with his plan. He works out everything to fit his plan and purpose.

It is written,“ I have made you a father of many nations.”( Genesis 17:5) God considers Abraham to be our father. The God that Abraham believed in gives life to the dead. Abraham’s God also creates things that did not exist before.

God always gives you all the grace you need. So you will only have to suffer for a little while. Then God himself will build you up again. He will make you strong and steady. And he has chosen you to share in his eternal glory because you belong to Christ.

They will make war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will have victory over them. That’s because he is the most powerful Lord of all and the greatest King of all. His appointed, chosen and faithful followers will be with him.”

He saved us. It wasn’t because of the good things we had done. It was because of his mercy. He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life.

My brothers and sisters, try very hard to show that God has appointed you to be saved. Try hard to show that he has chosen you. If you do everything I have just said, you will never trip and fall.

At one time we all lived among them. Our desires were controlled by sin. We tried to satisfy what they wanted us to do. We followed our desires and thoughts. God was angry with us like he was with everyone else. That’s because of the kind of people we all were.

It is not based on anything you have done. No one can brag about earning it.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose.God planned that those he had chosen would become like his Son. In that way, Christ will be the first and most honored among many brothers and sisters.And those God has planned for, he has also appointed to be saved. Those he has appointed, he has made right with himself. To those he has made right with himself, he has given his glory.

Brothers and sisters, we should always thank God for you. The Lord loves you. That’s because God chose you as the first to be saved. Salvation comes through the Holy Spirit’s work. He makes people holy. It also comes through believing the truth.He chose you to be saved by accepting the good news that we preach. And you will share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Some are also faithful today. They have been chosen by God’s grace.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.

God has saved us. He has chosen us to live a holy life. It wasn’t because of anything we have done. It was because of his own purpose and grace. Through Christ Jesus, God gave us this grace even before time began.

That was God’s plan from the beginning. He has fulfilled his plan through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Lord who rules over all has made a promise. He has said,“ You can be sure that what I have planned will happen. What I have decided will take place.

That’s how the Lord carries out his plan all over the world. That’s how he reaches out his powerful hand to punish all the nations.The Lord who rules over all has planned it. Who can stop him? He has reached out his powerful hand. Who can keep him from using it?

The Lord who rules over all planned to do it. He wanted to bring down all its pride and glory. He wanted to shame those who were honored all over the earth.

The Babylonians tremble and shake with fear. My plans against them stand firm. I plan to destroy their land completely. Then no one will live there.

We gave you hope and strength. We comforted you. We really wanted you to live in a way that is worthy of God. He chooses you to enter his glorious kingdom.

I know I’ve been a sinner ever since I was born. I’ve been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me.

Brothers and sisters, you are loved by God. We know that he has chosen you.

Before something even happens, I announce how it will end. In fact, from times long ago I announced what was still to come. I say,‘ My plan will succeed. I will do anything I want to do.’I will send for a man from the east to carry out my plan. From a land far away, he will come like a bird that kills its food. I will bring about what I have said. I will do what I have planned.