Romans 9:16
Romans 9:16 King James Version (KJV)
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Romans 9:14-18 The Message (MSG)
Is that grounds for complaining that God is unfair? Not so fast, please. God told Moses, “I’m in charge of mercy. I’m in charge of compassion.” Compassion doesn’t originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy. The same point was made when God said to Pharaoh, “I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power.” All we’re saying is that God has the first word, initiating the action in which we play our part for better or worse.
Romans 9:16 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
Romans 9:16 New Century Version (NCV)
So God will choose the one to whom he decides to show mercy; his choice does not depend on what people want or try to do.
Romans 9:16 American Standard Version (ASV)
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.
Romans 9:16 New International Version (NIV)
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
Romans 9:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.
Romans 9:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
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].
Romans 9:16 New Living Translation (NLT)
So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.