1. I am speaking the truth; I belong to Christ and I do not lie. My conscience, ruled by the Holy Spirit, also assures me that I am not lying
2. when I say how great is my sorrow, how endless the pain in my heart
3. for my people, my own flesh and blood! For their sake I could wish that I myself were under God's curse and separated from Christ.
11-12. But in order that the choice of one son might be completely the result of God's own purpose, God said to her, “The elder will serve the younger.” He said this before they were born, before they had done anything either good or bad; so God's choice was based on his call, and not on anything they had done.