So thenHe has mercyon whomHe desires,and He hardenswhomHe desires.
Then the LORDsaidto Moses,"Goto Pharaoh,for I have hardenedhis heartand the heartof his servants,that I may performthesesignsof Mine amongthem,
But the LORDhardenedPharaoh'sheart,and he did not letthe sonsof Israelgo.
But the LORDhardenedPharaoh'sheart,and he was not willingto letthem go.
Mosesand AaronperformedallthesewondersbeforePharaoh;yet the LORDhardenedPharaoh'sheart,and he did not letthe sonsof Israelgoout of his land.
"As for Me, behold,I will hardenthe heartsof the Egyptiansso that they will goin afterthem; and I will be honoredthrough Pharaohand allhis army,through his chariotsand his horsemen.
"Thus I will hardenPharaoh'sheart,and he will chaseafterthem; and I will be honoredthrough Pharaohand allhis army,and the Egyptianswill knowthat I am the LORD."And they didso.
The LORDsaidto Moses,"When you gobackto Egyptseethat you performbeforePharaohallthe wonderswhichI have putin your power;but I will hardenhis heartso that he will not letthe peoplego.
Yet Pharaoh'sheartwas hardened,and he did not listento them, as the LORDhad said.
"But I will hardenPharaoh'sheartthat I may multiplyMy signsand My wondersin the landof Egypt.
And the LORDhardenedPharaoh'sheart,and he did not listento them, justas the LORDhad spokento Moses.
Pharaohsent,and behold,there was not evenoneof the livestockof Israeldead.But the heartof Pharaohwas hardened,and he did not letthe peoplego.
Why,O LORD,do You cause us to strayfrom Your waysAnd hardenour heartfrom fearingYou? Returnfor the sakeof Your servants,the tribesof Your heritage.
"HE HAS BLINDEDTHEIR EYESAND HE HARDENEDTHEIR HEART,SOTHAT THEY WOULD NOT SEEWITH THEIR EYESAND PERCEIVEWITH THEIR HEART,AND BE CONVERTEDAND I HEALTHEM."
For I do not wantyou, brethren,to be uninformedof thismystery--sothat you will not be wisein your own estimation--that a partialhardeninghas happenedto Israeluntilthe fullnessof the Gentileshas comein;
to the praiseof the gloryof His grace,whichHe freely bestowedon us in the Beloved.
"But Sihonkingof Heshbonwas not willingfor us to passthrough his land; for the LORDyour Godhardenedhis spiritand madehis heartobstinate,in orderto deliverhim into your hand,as [he is] today.
For it was of the LORDto hardentheir hearts,to meetIsraelin battlein orderthat he might utterlydestroythem, that they might receivenomercy,but that he might destroythem, justas the LORDhad commandedMoses.
