"The LORDdid not setHis loveon you norchooseyou becauseyou were morein numberthananyof the peoples,for you were the fewestof allpeoples,
When they were only a fewin number,Very few,and strangersin it,
When they were only a fewmenin number,Very few,and strangersin it.
O seedof Abraham,His servant,O sonsof Jacob,His chosenones!
Not to us, O LORD,not to us, But to Your namegivegloryBecauseof Your lovingkindness,becauseof Your truth.
For by their own swordthey did not possessthe land,And their own armdid not savethem, But Your righthandand Your armand the lightof Your presence,For You favoredthem.
"Lookto Abrahamyour fatherAnd to Sarahwho gavebirthto you in pain;When[he] [was but] oneI calledhim, Then I blessedhim and multipliedhim."
In alltheir afflictionHe was afflicted,And the angelof His presencesavedthem; In His loveand in His mercyHe redeemedthem, And He liftedthem and carriedthem allthe daysof old.
and sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"On the daywhen I choseIsraeland sworeto the descendantsof the houseof Jacoband madeMyself knownto them in the landof Egypt,when I sworeto them, saying,I am the LORDyour God,
"Thereforesayto the houseof Israel,'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"It is not for your sake,O houseof Israel,that I am about to act,but for My holyname,whichyou have profanedamong the nationswhereyou went.
"For the gateis smalland the wayis narrowthat leadsto life,and thereare fewwho findit.
"Do not be afraid,littleflock,for your Fatherhas chosen gladlyto giveyou the kingdom.
But ifit is by grace,it is nolongeron the basisof works,otherwisegraceis no longergrace.
So thenHe has mercyon whomHe desires,and He hardenswhomHe desires.
Ordoes not the potterhavea rightover the clay,to makefrom the samelumponevesselfor honorable useand anotherfor common use?
The LORDyour Godhas multipliedyou, and behold,you are this daylike the starsof heavenin number.
"Your fatherswentdownto Egyptseventypersons[in all], and nowthe LORDyour Godhas madeyou as numerousas the starsof heaven.
"For you are a holypeopleto the LORDyour God,and the LORDhas chosenyou to be a peoplefor His own possessionout of allthe peopleswhoare on the faceof the earth.
"BecauseHe lovedyour fathers,therefore He chosetheir descendantsafterthem. And He personallybroughtyou from Egyptby His greatpower,
Seehow greata lovethe Fatherhas bestowedon us, that we would be calledchildrenof God;and [such] we are. For thisreasonthe worlddoes not knowus, becauseit did not knowHim.
In thisis love,not that we lovedGod,but that He lovedus and sentHis Son[to be] the propitiationfor our sins.
