(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),

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." And he answered him, "Here I am."

"Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me.

"Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves.

And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Look, Esau my brother [is] a hairy man, and I [am] a smooth-[skinned] man.

But his mother said to him, "[Let] your curse [be] on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get [them] for me."

Your people [shall be] volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.

"I was sought by [those who] did not ask [for Me;] I was found by [those who] did not seek Me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am,' To a nation [that] was not called by My name.

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from [the] wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

"Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from [the] wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called.]

and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption --

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure.

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

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