For by it the men of old received divine approval.

By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

By faith Abel offered God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his gifts. And through faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. For before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God.

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in godly fear prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.

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

By faith he lived in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise;

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, because she considered him faithful who had promised.

Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,

of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be called."

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he was at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites, and gave orders concerning his bones.

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

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

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies.

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised,

because God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are rebuked by him.

Besides this, we have had fathers of our flesh to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble, and by it many become defiled;

that no one be immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,

and the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further word be spoken to them.

For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."

This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe,

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said, "I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you."

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.

Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this with joy, and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

I urge you all the more to do this so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Grace be with you all.

And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But he must ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone.

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own desire.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger,

But one who looks intently into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer that acts, this man will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

Religion that is pure and undefiled in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit by my feet,"

Listen, my beloved brethren: has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?

Is it not they who blaspheme the honorable name by which you have been called?

But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

For judgment will be without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

You see that faith was working with his works, and faith was completed by works,

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

In the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of evil among the members of the body. The tongue corrupts our whole person, sets the whole course of our life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his deeds in the humility of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.

Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out against you; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rains.

You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation.

and the prayer offered in faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling with his blood: may grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Blessed be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

who are protected by God's power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaventhings into which angels long to look.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober in spirit, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct;

because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."