Then said I, Behold, I am here (in the head of the book it was written of me,) O God, to do thy will.

Saying above, that Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin thou didst not will, neither wast well pleased with; whatsoever are offered according to law;

And the Holy Spirit also bears us witness of it; for after what was said:

Any one who set at naught the law of Moses was put to death without pity, on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

For we know who it was that said, "Vengeance belongs to me, I will pay back!" and again, "The Lord will be His people's judge."

partly while all men wondered and gazed at you for the shame and tribulation that was done unto you, and partly while ye became companions of them which so passed their time.

For you showed sympathy with those who were in prison and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, for you knew that you had in yourselves and in heaven one that was lasting.

For, having done what was right in God's eyes, you have need of waiting before his word has effect for you.

and it was for their faith that our fore-fathers acquired so great a reputation.

By faith it is clear to us that the order of events was fixed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made from things which only seem to be.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:

By faith Noah, being moved by the fear of God, made ready an ark for the salvation of his family, because God had given him news of things which were not seen at the time; and through it the world was judged by him, and he got for his heritage the righteousness which is by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By faith he was a wanderer in the land of the agreement, as in a strange land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had a part with him in the same heritage:

For he was confidently looking forward to that city with the solid foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

So that from one man, who was near to death, came children in number as the stars in heaven, or as the sand by the seaside, which may not be numbered.

These all died in faith, without receiving what was promised, having only a distant view of what they eagerly expected, professing to live as strangers and pilgrims in the land.

But no, they were longing for a better, a heavenly, land! And therefore God was not ashamed to be called their God; indeed he had already prepared them a city.

By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten'son ;

even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

For he considered the fact that God was able to raise people from the dead; and so from the dead, in a figure, he did receive him back.

It was faith that enabled Isaac to bless Jacob and Esau, even with regard to the future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Feeling that it was better to undergo pain with the people of God, than for a short time to have a taste of the pleasures of sin;

and thought the reproach endured for the Christ was greater wealth than all the treasures in Egypt, for he kept his eye upon the reward.

By faith he left Egypt, because he was not afraid of the king's anger, for he persevered as though he were actually seeing Him who is unseen.

By faith he performed the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who was destroying the firstborn would not touch them.

It was by faith that they crossed the Red Sea like dry land ??and when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned.

It was by faith that the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being surrounded for only seven days.

By faith Rahab the harlot was not destroyed with those who were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

who through faith subdued kingdoms, practis'd justice, obtained what was promised, stopped the mouths of lions,

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength, who became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight.

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, persecuted, tormented??38 of whom the world was not worthy??andering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

And all of these, though they gained [divine] approval through their faith, did not receive [the fulfillment of] what was promised,

Because God had kept some better thing for us, so that it was not possible for them to become complete without us.

looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And have you forgotten the exhortation that was addressed to you as sons? [Prov. 3:11f says], "My son, do not take the discipline of the Lord lightly, and do not get discouraged when He rebukes you.

their discipline was temporary, and the effect of humour; whereas God chastises us for our advantage, to make us partakers of his holiness.

lest any one may be a fornicator, or a profane person, as was Esau, who for one morsel sold his birthright.

For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought is diligently with tears.

For ye have not come to the mount that might be touched and was all on fire, and to obscurity, and darkness, and tempest,

and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.

for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;

and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:

Beware, lest ye excuse yourselves from him that speaketh; for, if, they escaped not, who excused themselves from him who on earth was warning, how much less, shall, we, who from him that warneth from the heavens, do turn ourselves away:

Whose voice was the cause of the shaking of the earth; but now he has made an oath, saying, There will be still one more shaking, not only of the earth, but of heaven.

You must not forget your former leaders, for it was they who brought you the message of God. Consider how they closed their lives; imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same today that he was yesterday, and he will be so forever.

For this reason Jesus was put to death outside the walls, so that he might make the people holy by his blood.

Know ye, brother Timothy who was set free is with whom I will see you, if he comes sooner.