Romans 9:18

So then, ¹  God ²  has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden. ³ 

Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.

So you see, God shows mercy to some just because he wants to, and he chooses to make some people refuse to listen.

All we're saying is that God has the first word, initiating the action in which we play our part for good or ill.

So then, at his pleasure he has mercy on a man, and at his pleasure he makes the heart hard.

So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.

Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

So then, ¹  God ²  has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden. ³ 

¹ sn There is a double connective here that cannot be easily preserved in English: “consequently therefore,” emphasizing the conclusion of what he has been arguing.

² tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

³ tn Grk “So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires.”