for though [the twins] were not yetbornand had not doneanythinggoodorbad,sothat God'spurposeaccordingto [His] choicewould stand,not becauseof worksbut becauseof Him who calls,
Behold,I was broughtforthin iniquity,And in sinmy motherconceivedme.
The LORDof hostshas swornsaying,"Surely,justas I have intendedsoit has happened,and justas I have plannedso it will stand,
The LORDof hostshas plannedit, to defilethe prideof allbeauty,To despiseallthe honoredof the earth.
So the landquakesand writhes,For the purposesof the LORDagainstBabylonstand,To makethe landof BabylonA desolationwithoutinhabitants.
(as it is written,"A FATHEROF MANYNATIONSHAVE I MADEYOU") in the presenceof Him whomhe believed,[even] God,who gives lifeto the deadand callsinto being that which does not exist.
Amongthem we tooallformerlylivedin the lustsof our flesh,indulgingthe desiresof the fleshand of the mind,and were by naturechildrenof wrath,evenas the rest.
not as a resultof works,sothat noonemay boast.
[This was] in accordancewith the eternalpurposewhichHe carriedout in ChristJesusour Lord,
knowing,brethrenbelovedby God,[His] choiceof you;
sothat you would walkin a manner worthyof the Godwho callsyou into His ownkingdomand glory.
who has savedus and calledus with a holycalling,not accordingto our works,but accordingto His ownpurposeand gracewhich was grantedus in ChristJesusfrom alleternity,
He savedus, not on the basisof deedswhichwe have donein righteousness,but accordingto His mercy,by the washingof regenerationand renewingby the HolySpirit,
After you have sufferedfor a little while,the Godof allgrace,who calledyou to His eternalgloryin Christ,will Himselfperfect,confirm,strengthen[and] establishyou.
Therefore,brethren,be all the morediligentto makecertainabout His callingand choosingyou; for as long as you practicethese things,you will neverstumble;
"Thesewill wage waragainstthe Lamb,and the Lambwill overcomethem, becauseHe is Lordof lordsand Kingof kings,and thosewhoare with Him [are the] calledand chosenand faithful."
