¹¹ Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad^(A)—in order that God’s purpose^(B) in election might stand: ¹² not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”^{[a](C) 13} Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[b](D)

¹⁴ What then shall we say?^(E) Is God unjust? Not at all!^{(F) 15} For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.^{(H) 17} For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”^{[d](I) 18} Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(J)

¹⁹ One of you will say to me:^(K) “Then why does God still blame us?^(L) For who is able to resist his will?”^{(M) 20} But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(N) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(O) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^{[e](P) 21} Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?^(Q)