So it doesn’t depend on what people want or what they do. It depends on God’s mercy.

据此看来，这不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎发怜悯的神。

由此看来，这不靠人的意愿，也不靠人的努力，只靠上帝的怜悯。

由此看来，这不靠人的意愿，也不靠人的努力，只靠神的怜悯。

可见这并不在于人的意志和努力，而在于祂的怜悯。

这样看来，既不是出于人意，也不是由于人为（“人为”原文作“奔走”或“奔跑”），只在于那怜悯人的神。

由此可见，这不在于人的意愿，也不在于人的努力，而在于施怜悯的神。

據此看來，這不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎發憐憫的神。

由此看來，這不靠人的意願，也不靠人的努力，只靠上帝的憐憫。

由此看來，這不靠人的意願，也不靠人的努力，只靠神的憐憫。

可見這並不在於人的意志和努力，而在於祂的憐憫。

這樣看來，既不是出於人意，也不是由於人為（“人為”原文作“奔走”或“奔跑”），只在於那憐憫人的神。

這便不是在乎那意願的，也不是在乎那奔跑的，乃是在乎那憐恤人的上帝了。

由此可見，這不在於人的意願，也不在於人的努力，而在於施憐憫的神。

是則非由志意、非由馳驅、乃由矜恤之上帝也、

此非由人意、非由人力、乃由上帝矜恤、

如是、非由人願、非由人力、原文作如是非由願者非由趨者乃由矜恤之天主、

此固非人意與人力、所得而左右、惟在慈惠天主之矜恤而已。

It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.

So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.

So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.

So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.

So then[ it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.

So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.

Some people did accept him and did believe in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God.To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants them to be born. They are born because of what God does.

At that time Jesus said,“ I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children.Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.

At one time we too acted like fools. We didn’t obey God. We were tricked. We were controlled by all kinds of desires and pleasures. We were full of evil. We wanted what belongs to others. People hated us, and we hated one another.But the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared.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.

At that time Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit. He said,“ I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children. Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.

God chose to give us new birth through the message of truth. He wanted us to be the first harvest of his new creation.

The Lord says,“ I made myself known to those who were not asking for me. I was found by those who were not trying to find me. I spoke to a nation that did not pray to me.‘ Here I am,’ I said.‘ Here I am.’

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families.But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. God chose things considered unimportant to do away with things considered important.So no one can boast to God.Because of what God has done, you belong to Christ Jesus. He has become God’s wisdom for us. He makes us right with God. He makes us holy and sets us free.It is written,“ The one who boasts should boast about what the Lord has done.”( Jeremiah 9:24)

But God loves us deeply. He is full of mercy.So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done. He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you.

God’s grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn’t come from anything you do. It is God’s gift.

But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.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.

God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to fulfill his good purpose.

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.

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.

The wind blows where it wants to. You hear the sound it makes. But you can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going. It is the same with everyone who is born with the Spirit.”

Your troops will be willing to fight for you on the day of battle. Your young men will be wrapped in holy majesty. They will come to you like the fresh dew that falls early in the morning.

Isaac had become old. His eyes were so weak he couldn’t see anymore. One day he called for his older son Esau. He said to him,“ My son.”“ Here I am,” he answered.Isaac said,“ I’m an old man now. And I don’t know when I’ll die.Now then, get your weapons. Get your bow and arrows. Go out to the open country. Hunt some wild animals for me.Prepare for me the kind of tasty food I like. Bring it to me to eat. Then I’ll give you my blessing before I die.”

Go out to the flock. Bring me two of the finest young goats. I will prepare tasty food for your father. I’ll make it just the way he likes it.I want you to take it to your father to eat. Then he’ll give you his blessing before he dies.”Jacob said to his mother Rebekah,“ My brother Esau’s body is covered with hair. But my skin is smooth.What if my father touches me? He would know I was trying to trick him. He would curse me instead of giving me a blessing.”His mother said to him,“ My son, let the curse be on me. Just do what I say. Go and get the goats for me.”So he went and got the goats. He brought them to his mother. And she prepared some tasty food. She made it just the way his father liked it.