And so there sprang from one man, and that dead as to any prospects for offspring, a people as numberless as the stars in the sky and as the sands beside the seashore.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.

And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

But now they desire a better country , that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for 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 ;

of whom it had been said, It is through Isaac that your posterity will be traced.

accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.

By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things that were going to happen.

It was by faith that, when Jacob was dying, he blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bending in prayer over the head of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, said that the children of Israel would go out of Egypt; and gave orders about his bones.

By faith, Moses, at his birth was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's decree.

It was faith that caused Moses, when he was grown up, to refuse the title of 'Son of a Daughter of Pharaoh.'

because he preferred to suffer hardships with the people of God than to have the passing enjoyment that results from sin,

He thought that being insulted for the sake of the Messiah was of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

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

By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should 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 perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Tho' these were all celebrated for their faith, they did not receive the reward that was promised:

God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before 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.

For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.

And have ye forgotten the exhortation that reasons with you as with sons, My son, do not disparage the chastening of Lord, nor become disheartened when punished by him?

For it is those whom he loves that he disciplines, And he scourges every son whom he acknowledges.

It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?

But if you have not that punishment of which we all have our part, then you are not true sons, but children of shame.

Moreover, seeing we had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: should we not much rather be in subjection unto the father of spiritual gifts that we might live?

For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.

Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;

and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.

Continue to live in peace with everybody and strive for that consecration without which no one can see the Lord.

looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you , and thereby the many be defiled;

And that there may not be any evil liver, or any man without respect for God, like Esau, who let his birthright go for a plate of food.

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 are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto 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:

No, but it is to Mount Zion that you have drawn near, the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless hosts of angels,

and to the church of the firstborn ones [i.e., those who have received an inheritance from their Father], whose names are recorded in heaven. [See Luke 10:20]. [You have come] to God, who is the Judge of all people, and to the spirits of righteous people who have become [morally] perfect [i.e., that great company of God's people who have gone on to their heavenly reward],

and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more'shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:

whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once [more] I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."

And this word , Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are illtreated, as being yourselves also in the body.

Marriage is every where honourable, and that state is innocent: but the licentious and adulterers God will punish.

The Way of life is to be without love of money, being content with the things that are present, for he has said, I will, no, not leave thee, and also, I will, no, not forsake thee.

So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?

Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.

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

Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Let us, therefore, go to Him outside the camp, enduring the reproach that He endured;

For here we have no enduring city, but we seek that which is coming.

Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.

And forget not to be kind and liberal; for with that sort of sacrifice God is well pleased.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them : for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.

Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.

And I exhort you the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of an eternal covenant,

make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

But I beseech you, brethren, bear the word of exhortation, for it is but in few words that I have written to you.

Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered over the world.

Consider the various tryals that surround you, my brethren, as matter of great joy; knowing this,

Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.

And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;

because he is double-minded and undecided in all that he does [i.e., he cannot make up his mind and follow through about anything].

But let the brother of low position be glad that he is lifted up;

and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass [so that] its flower [blossoms] fall off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the wealthy person will fade away as he goes about his business [affairs].

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.

Let no man under temptation, say, it is God that tempts him; for as he is incapable of moral evil, he can't influence any one thereto.

But each man is tempted by his own lusts that allure and entice him.

When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

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

So that, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

for a man's anger does not produce the uprightness that God requires.

wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;

And see that ye be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves with sophistry.

For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass.

But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and'so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.

But if any one seems to be religious, bridling not his own tongue, but deceiving his own heart, the religion of that man is vain.

A religious worship that is pure and stainless in the sight of God the Father is this: To look after orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep one's own self unstained by the world.

and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

do ye not make a partial difference within yourselves, and become judges that reason wickedly?

Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

Yet you dishonored that poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?