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

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

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

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.

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.They are reborn— not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer:“ O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said,“ O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

The Lord says,“ I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said,‘ Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.Therefore, as the Scriptures say,“ If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.( It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.“ Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation— a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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;

The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

When you go to war, your people will serve you willingly. You are arrayed in holy garments, and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew.

One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said,“ My son.”“ Yes, Father?” Esau replied.“ I am an old man now,” Isaac said,“ and I don’t know when I may die.Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me.Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.”

Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish.Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.”“ But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah,“ my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth.What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.”But his mother replied,“ Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats for me!”So Jacob went out and got the young goats for his mother. Rebekah took them and prepared a delicious meal, just the way Isaac liked it.