New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
6 It is not that God failed to keep his promise to them. But only some of the people of Israel are truly God's people,
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It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 and only some of Abraham'sn descendants are true children of Abraham. But God said to Abraham: "The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac."
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Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
8 This means that not all of Abraham's descendants are God's true children. Abraham's true children are those who become God's children because of the promise God made to Abraham.
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In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.
9 God's promise to Abraham was this: "At the right time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
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For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”
10 And that is not all. Rebekah's sons had the same father, our father Isaac.
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Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.
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Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:
12 But before the two boys were born, God told Rebekah, "The older will serve the younger." This was before the boys had done anything good or bad. God said this so that the one chosen would be chosen because of God's own plan. He was chosen because he was the one God wanted to call, not because of anything he did.
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not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 As the Scripture says, "I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau."
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Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 So what should we say about this? Is God unfair? In no way.
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What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
15 God said to Moses, "I will show kindness to anyone to whom I want to show kindness, and I will show mercy to anyone to whom I want to show mercy."
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For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16 So God will choose the one to whom he decides to show mercy; his choice does not depend on what people want or try to do.
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It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.