¹⁶ So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses—it is His sovereign gift]. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very purpose, to display My power in [dealing with] you, and so that My name would be proclaimed in all the earth.”^{(A) 18} So then, He has mercy on whom He wills (chooses), and He hardens [the heart of] whom He wills.

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?” ²⁰ On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”^{(B) 21} Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump [of clay] one object for honorable use [something beautiful or distinctive] and another for common use [something ordinary or menial]? ²² What if God, although willing to show His [terrible] wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of His wrath [which are] prepared for destruction?^{(C) 23} And what if He has done so to make known the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ including us, whom He also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles? ²⁵ Just as He says in [the writings of the prophet] Hosea:

²⁷ And Isaiah calls out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is only the remnant [a small believing minority] that will be saved [from God’s judgment]; ²⁸ For the Lord will execute His word upon the earth [He will conclude His dealings with mankind] completely and without delay.”^{(F) 29} It is as Isaiah foretold,

³⁰ What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness [who did not seek salvation and a right relationship with God, nevertheless] obtained righteousness, that is, the righteousness which is produced by faith; ³¹ whereas Israel, [though always] pursuing the law of righteousness, did not succeed in fulfilling the law.^{(H) 32} And why not? Because it was not by faith [that they pursued it], but as though it were by works [relying on the merit of their works instead of their faith]. They stumbled over the stumbling Stone [Jesus Christ].^{(I) 33} As it is written and forever remains written,