By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.

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:

And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him ; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead,'so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.

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.

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

choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

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

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.

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

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.

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;

but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,

to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

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:

for our God is a consuming fire.

Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

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.

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.

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

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.

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

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

Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,

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.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting.

But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:

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.

for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from 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;

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?

Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.

and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.

Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture'saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.

Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:

To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.

unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,

ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it , ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it , ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:

And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?

having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.

Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

who is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;

if any man speaketh,'speaking as it were oracles of God; is any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye ; because the'spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.

but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what'shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.

Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.

By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him , I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand ye fast therein.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the'saviour Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:

For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;

looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.