New Revised Standard NRS
New International Version NIV
6 It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel,
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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 not all of Abraham's children are his true descendants; but "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you."
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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 it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.
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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 For this is what the promise said, "About this time I will return and Sarah shall 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 Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac.
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Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.
11 Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's purpose of election might continue,
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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 not by works but by his call) she was told, "The elder shall serve the younger."
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not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
13 As it is written, "I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau."
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Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
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What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
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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 it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.
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It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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.