Amit Gvaryahu All copyrighted work shared with a CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ = Love at first sight: Birkat Ahava = == Ι biblical inspirations == === Deuteronomy 4:35-37 === אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת, כִּי יְהוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים: אֵין עוֹד, מִלְּבַדּוֹ. לו מִן-הַשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁמִיעֲךָ אֶת-קֹלוֹ, לְיַסְּרֶךָּ; וְעַל-הָאָרֶץ, הֶרְאֲךָ אֶת-אִשּׁוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה, וּדְבָרָיו שָׁמַעְתָּ, מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ. לז וְתַחַת, כִּי אָהַב אֶת-אֲבֹתֶיךָ, וַיִּבְחַר בְּזַרְעוֹ, אַחֲרָיו; וַיּוֹצִאֲךָ בְּפָנָיו בְּכֹחוֹ הַגָּדֹל, מִמִּצְרָיִם. Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (36) Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. (37) And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; === Deuteronomy 7:6-8 === ו כִּי עַם קָדוֹשׁ אַתָּה, לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ: בְּךָ בָּחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעַם סְגֻלָּה, מִכֹּל הָעַמִּים, אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה. ז לֹא מֵרֻבְּכֶם מִכָּל-הָעַמִּים, חָשַׁק יְהוָה בָּכֶם--וַיִּבְחַר בָּכֶם: כִּי-אַתֶּם הַמְעַט, מִכָּל-הָעַמִּים. ח כִּי מֵאַהֲבַת יְהוָה אֶתְכֶם, וּמִשָּׁמְרוֹ אֶת-הַשְּׁבֻעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם, הוֹצִיא יְהוָה אֶתְכֶם, בְּיָד חֲזָקָה; וַיִּפְדְּךָ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים, מִיַּד פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ-מִצְרָיִם. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (7) The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: (8) But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. === 1 Kgs 10:1-9 === א וּמַלְכַּת-שְׁבָא, שֹׁמַעַת אֶת-שֵׁמַע שְׁלֹמֹה--לְשֵׁם יְהוָה; וַתָּבֹא לְנַסֹּתוֹ, בְּחִידוֹת. ב וַתָּבֹא יְרוּשָׁלְַמָה, בְּחַיִל כָּבֵד מְאֹד, גְּמַלִּים נֹשְׂאִים בְּשָׂמִים וְזָהָב רַב-מְאֹד, וְאֶבֶן יְקָרָה; וַתָּבֹא, אֶל-שְׁלֹמֹה, וַתְּדַבֵּר אֵלָיו, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר הָיָה עִם-לְבָבָהּ. ג וַיַּגֶּד-לָהּ שְׁלֹמֹה, אֶת-כָּל-דְּבָרֶיהָ: לֹא-הָיָה דָּבָר נֶעְלָם מִן-הַמֶּלֶךְ, אֲשֶׁר לֹא הִגִּיד לָהּ. ד וַתֵּרֶא, מַלְכַּת-שְׁבָא, אֵת, כָּל-חָכְמַת שְׁלֹמֹה; וְהַבַּיִת, אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה. ה וּמַאֲכַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ וּמוֹשַׁב עֲבָדָיו וּמַעֲמַד מְשָׁרְתָו וּמַלְבֻּשֵׁיהֶם, וּמַשְׁקָיו, וְעֹלָתוֹ, אֲשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה בֵּית יְהוָה; וְלֹא-הָיָה בָהּ עוֹד, רוּחַ. ו וַתֹּאמֶר, אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ, אֱמֶת הָיָה הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתִּי בְּאַרְצִי--עַל-דְּבָרֶיךָ, וְעַל-חָכְמָתֶךָ. ז וְלֹא-הֶאֱמַנְתִּי לַדְּבָרִים, עַד אֲשֶׁר-בָּאתִי וַתִּרְאֶינָה עֵינַי, וְהִנֵּה לֹא-הֻגַּד-לִי, הַחֵצִי: הוֹסַפְתָּ חָכְמָה וָטוֹב, אֶל-הַשְּׁמוּעָה אֲשֶׁר שָׁמָעְתִּי. ח אַשְׁרֵי אֲנָשֶׁיךָ, אַשְׁרֵי עֲבָדֶיךָ אֵלֶּה, הָעֹמְדִים לְפָנֶיךָ תָּמִיד, הַשֹּׁמְעִים אֶת-חָכְמָתֶךָ. ט יְהִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בָּרוּךְ, אֲשֶׁר חָפֵץ בְּךָ, לְתִתְּךָ עַל-כִּסֵּא יִשְׂרָאֵל--בְּאַהֲבַת יְהוָה אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְעֹלָם, וַיְשִׂימְךָ לְמֶלֶךְ, לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה. And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. (2) And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. (3) And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. (4) And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, (5) And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. (6) And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. (7) Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. (8) Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. (9) Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. === Deuteronomy 10:12-16 === יב וְעַתָּה, יִשְׂרָאֵל--מָה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, שֹׁאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ: כִּי אִם-לְיִרְאָה אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל-דְּרָכָיו, וּלְאַהֲבָה אֹתוֹ, וְלַעֲבֹד אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשֶׁךָ. יג לִשְׁמֹר אֶת-מִצְו‍ֹת יְהוָה, וְאֶת-חֻקֹּתָיו, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ, הַיּוֹם--לְטוֹב, לָךְ. יד הֵן לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם, הָאָרֶץ, וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר-בָּהּ. טו רַק בַּאֲבֹתֶיךָ חָשַׁק יְהוָה, לְאַהֲבָה אוֹתָם; וַיִּבְחַר בְּזַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם, בָּכֶם מִכָּל-הָעַמִּים--כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה. טז וּמַלְתֶּם, אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם; וְעָרְפְּכֶם--לֹא תַקְשׁוּ, עוֹד. Deu 10:12-16 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, (13) To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? (14) Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. (15) Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. (16) Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. === Isaiah 63:7-17 === ז חַסְדֵי יְהוָה אַזְכִּיר, תְּהִלֹּת יְהוָה, כְּעַל, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-גְּמָלָנוּ יְהוָה; וְרַב-טוּב לְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר-גְּמָלָם כְּרַחֲמָיו וּכְרֹב חֲסָדָיו. ח וַיֹּאמֶר אַךְ-עַמִּי הֵמָּה, בָּנִים לֹא יְשַׁקֵּרוּ; וַיְהִי לָהֶם, לְמוֹשִׁיעַ. ט בְּכָל-צָרָתָם לא (לוֹ) צָר, וּמַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו הוֹשִׁיעָם--בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ וּבְחֶמְלָתוֹ, הוּא גְאָלָם; וַיְנַטְּלֵם וַיְנַשְּׂאֵם, כָּל-יְמֵי עוֹלָם. י וְהֵמָּה מָרוּ וְעִצְּבוּ, אֶת-רוּחַ קָדְשׁוֹ; וַיֵּהָפֵךְ לָהֶם לְאוֹיֵב, הוּא נִלְחַם-בָּם. יא וַיִּזְכֹּר יְמֵי-עוֹלָם, מֹשֶׁה עַמּוֹ; אַיֵּה הַמַּעֲלֵם מִיָּם, אֵת רֹעֵי צֹאנוֹ--אַיֵּה הַשָּׂם בְּקִרְבּוֹ, אֶת-רוּחַ קָדְשׁוֹ. יב מוֹלִיךְ לִימִין מֹשֶׁה, זְרוֹעַ תִּפְאַרְתּוֹ; בּוֹקֵעַ מַיִם מִפְּנֵיהֶם, לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ שֵׁם עוֹלָם. יג מוֹלִיכָם, בַּתְּהֹמוֹת; כַּסּוּס בַּמִּדְבָּר, לֹא יִכָּשֵׁלוּ. יד כַּבְּהֵמָה בַּבִּקְעָה תֵרֵד, רוּחַ יְהוָה תְּנִיחֶנּוּ--כֵּן נִהַגְתָּ עַמְּךָ, לַעֲשׂוֹת לְךָ שֵׁם תִּפְאָרֶת. טו הַבֵּט מִשָּׁמַיִם וּרְאֵה, מִזְּבֻל קָדְשְׁךָ וְתִפְאַרְתֶּךָ: אַיֵּה קִנְאָתְךָ וּגְבוּרֹתֶךָ, הֲמוֹן מֵעֶיךָ וְרַחֲמֶיךָ אֵלַי הִתְאַפָּקוּ. טז כִּי-אַתָּה אָבִינוּ--כִּי אַבְרָהָם לֹא יְדָעָנוּ, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יַכִּירָנוּ: אַתָּה יְהוָה אָבִינוּ, גֹּאֲלֵנוּ מֵעוֹלָם שְׁמֶךָ. יז לָמָּה תַתְעֵנוּ יְהוָה מִדְּרָכֶיךָ, תַּקְשִׁיחַ לִבֵּנוּ מִיִּרְאָתֶךָ; שׁוּב לְמַעַן עֲבָדֶיךָ, שִׁבְטֵי נַחֲלָתֶךָ. I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. (8) For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. (9) In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. (10) But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. (11) Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? (12) That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name? (13) That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble? (14) As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name. (15) Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? (16) Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. (17) O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. === Jeremiah 31:1-5 === א כֹּה, אָמַר יְהוָה, מָצָא חֵן בַּמִּדְבָּר, עַם שְׂרִידֵי חָרֶב; הָלוֹךְ לְהַרְגִּיעוֹ, יִשְׂרָאֵל. ב מֵרָחוֹק, יְהוָה נִרְאָה לִי; וְאַהֲבַת עוֹלָם אֲהַבְתִּיךְ, עַל-כֵּן מְשַׁכְתִּיךְ חָסֶד. ג עוֹד אֶבְנֵךְ וְנִבְנֵית, בְּתוּלַת יִשְׂרָאֵל: עוֹד תַּעְדִּי תֻפַּיִךְ, וְיָצָאת בִּמְחוֹל מְשַׂחֲקִים. ד עוֹד תִּטְּעִי כְרָמִים, בְּהָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן; נָטְעוּ נֹטְעִים, וְחִלֵּלוּ. ה כִּי יֶשׁ-יוֹם, קָרְאוּ נֹצְרִים בְּהַר אֶפְרָיִם; קוּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶה צִיּוֹן, אֶל-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ. (1) Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. (2) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (3) Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. (4) Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. (5) For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. === Jeremiah 15:1-6 === א וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, אֵלַי, אִם-יַעֲמֹד מֹשֶׁה וּשְׁמוּאֵל לְפָנַי, אֵין נַפְשִׁי אֶל-הָעָם הַזֶּה; שַׁלַּח מֵעַל-פָּנַי, וְיֵצֵאוּ. ב וְהָיָה כִּי-יֹאמְרוּ אֵלֶיךָ, אָנָה נֵצֵא; וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה-אָמַר יְהוָה, אֲשֶׁר לַמָּוֶת לַמָּוֶת וַאֲשֶׁר לַחֶרֶב לַחֶרֶב, וַאֲשֶׁר לָרָעָב לָרָעָב, וַאֲשֶׁר לַשְּׁבִי לַשֶּׁבִי. ג וּפָקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם אַרְבַּע מִשְׁפָּחוֹת, נְאֻם-יְהוָה, אֶת-הַחֶרֶב לַהֲרֹג, וְאֶת-הַכְּלָבִים לִסְחֹב; וְאֶת-עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת-בֶּהֱמַת הָאָרֶץ, לֶאֱכֹל וּלְהַשְׁחִית. ד וּנְתַתִּים לזועה (לְזַעֲוָה), לְכֹל מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ--בִּגְלַל מְנַשֶּׁה בֶן-יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ, מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, עַל אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה, בִּירוּשָׁלִָם. ה כִּי מִי-יַחְמֹל עָלַיִךְ, יְרוּשָׁלִַם, וּמִי, יָנוּד לָךְ; וּמִי יָסוּר, לִשְׁאֹל לְשָׁלֹם לָךְ. ו אַתְּ נָטַשְׁתְּ אֹתִי נְאֻם-יְהוָה, אָחוֹר תֵּלֵכִי; וָאַט אֶת-יָדִי עָלַיִךְ וָאַשְׁחִיתֵךְ, נִלְאֵיתִי הִנָּחֵם. ז וָאֶזְרֵם בְּמִזְרֶה, בְּשַׁעֲרֵי הָאָרֶץ; שִׁכַּלְתִּי אִבַּדְתִּי אֶת-עַמִּי, מִדַּרְכֵיהֶם לוֹא-שָׁבוּ. Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. (2) And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. (3) And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. (4) And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. (5) For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest? === Malachi 1:2; 3:13-18 === ב אָהַבְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אָמַר יְהוָה, וַאֲמַרְתֶּם בַּמָּה אֲהַבְתָּנוּ; הֲלוֹא-אָח עֵשָׂו לְיַעֲקֹב נְאֻם-יְהוָה, וָאֹהַב אֶת-יַעֲקֹב.
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יג חָזְקוּ עָלַי דִּבְרֵיכֶם, אָמַר יְהוָה; וַאֲמַרְתֶּם, מַה-נִּדְבַּרְנוּ עָלֶיךָ. יד אֲמַרְתֶּם, שָׁוְא עֲבֹד אֱלֹהִים; וּמַה-בֶּצַע, כִּי שָׁמַרְנוּ מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ, וְכִי הָלַכְנוּ קְדֹרַנִּית, מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת. טו וְעַתָּה, אֲנַחְנוּ מְאַשְּׁרִים זֵדִים; גַּם-נִבְנוּ עֹשֵׂי רִשְׁעָה, גַּם בָּחֲנוּ אֱלֹהִים וַיִּמָּלֵטוּ. טז אָז נִדְבְּרוּ יִרְאֵי יְהוָה, אִישׁ אֶל-רֵעֵהוּ; וַיַּקְשֵׁב יְהוָה, וַיִּשְׁמָע, וַיִּכָּתֵב סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן לְפָנָיו לְיִרְאֵי יְהוָה, וּלְחֹשְׁבֵי שְׁמוֹ. יז וְהָיוּ לִי, אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, לַיּוֹם, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה סְגֻלָּה; וְחָמַלְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם--כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחְמֹל אִישׁ, עַל-בְּנוֹ הָעֹבֵד אֹתוֹ. יח וְשַׁבְתֶּם, וּרְאִיתֶם, בֵּין צַדִּיק, לְרָשָׁע--בֵּין עֹבֵד אֱלֹהִים, לַאֲשֶׁר לֹא עֲבָדוֹ.
The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. (2) I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, * Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? (14) Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? (15) And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. (16) Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. (17) And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. (18) Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. == II. God Loves other groups, too == === Qumran === === Damascus document (CD 8:14-18) === ואשר אמר משה "לא בצדקתך ובישר לבבך אתה בא לרשת את הגוים האלה כי מאהבתו את אבותך ומשמרו את השבועה". וכן המשפט לשבי ישראל סרו מדרך העם. באהבת אל את הראשנים אשר היעירו אחריו אהב את הבאים אחריהם כי להם ברית האבות. ובשונאו את בוני החיץ חרה אפו. And as Moses says: ''not due to your righteousness and the rectitude of your heart do you come to supplant these gentiles, for due to the love He had for your fathers, and due to His keeping his oath'' (Deut 9:5), and so it is for the returnees of Israel who left the ways of the people. As God loved the first ones who went after him, he loved those who came after them, for theirs is the covenant of the fathers. And as he hated the builders of the wall, he became angry (with them). === Rule of the community (1QS 3:25-4:1) === והואה ברא רוחות אור וחושכ
ועליהון יסד כול מעשה.,
<וע>ל <דרכי>הן כול עבודה.
אחת אהב אל לכול <מו>עדי עולמים ובכול עלילותיה ירצה לעד.
אחת תעב סודה וכול דרכיה שנא לנצח.
And he created the spirits of light and darkness And on them set every work, And on their paths every labor. God loved one for all eternity, and will desire forever in all of its deeds. And the other, he hated its community and hated all of its ways forever. === New Testament === === John 3:16-21 === For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. === Romans 9:1-16 === I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, (2) That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. (3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: (4) Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; (5) Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (6) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: (7) Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (8) That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (9) For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. (10) And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (11) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (12) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. === Ephesians 2:1-9 === And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.