9 I’m not lying—I’m speaking truthfully in Messiah, and both my conscience and the holy spirit agree 2 that my sorrow is extensive, and the sorrow in my heart just won’t stop, 3 because I was hoping that I myself would be a sacrifice from the messiah for my brothers and sisters, my fellow-citizens in this world. 4 [ref]They’re the descendants of Yisrael (Israel) who’ve been adopted as God’s children, and who God revealed his power to, as well as the agreements, the Law, the temple worship, and the promises. 5 The patriarchs are Jewish, and the messiah, who has authority over everything, physically came from them. May God be blessed throughout the ages. May it be so.

6 But it’s not that God’s message has failed. Yisrael doesn’t include all of Yisrael’s descendants, 7 [ref]nor are all of Abraham’s descendants his children, but, ‘It’s through Yitshak (Isaac) that your descendants will be counted.’ 8 That isn’t talking about biological children—these are God’s children, but the children of the promise are being counted as descendants. 9 [ref]After all, this message is the promise: ‘I’ll come back, and Sarah will have a son.’

10 And not only that, but also Rebekah, from one pregnancy to our ancestor Yitshak, delivered twins. 11 [ref]Before they were born, and so before they could do anything good or bad, in order that God’s deliberate choice would stand 12 (not as a result of effort, but by God’s announcement), she was told, ‘The older child will serve the younger one.’ 13 [ref]As it was written: ‘I loved Yacob but I hated Esau.’

14 So what should we say then? Is God unfair? Of course not, 15 [ref]because he said to Mosheh: ‘I’ll be merciful to whoever I want to, and I’ll have pity on anyone I want to.’ 16 In other words, it doesn’t depend on the willingness or activities of the person, but on God’s mercy. 17 [ref]After all, in the scriptures, God says to the king of Egypt (Mitsrayim): ‘I chose you as king so that I can demonstrate my power through you, and so that my name will be talked about all over the world.’ 18 In other words, God will be merciful to whoever he wants to, but he hardens whoever he wants to.