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

For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

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

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

He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.

By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days.

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.

And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,

keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts."

Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.

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

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.

And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.

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

For they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."

Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven?

For our God is indeed a devouring fire.

Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.

Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you and I will never abandon you."

Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them.

For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly.

But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind.

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,

For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

For human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.

For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.

For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.

Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,

For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.

For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.

For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.

For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.

So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains.

You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord's return is near.

Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.

Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ's blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!

that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,

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

This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.

They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.

Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

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

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.

For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,

And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

For it says in scripture, "Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame."

So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,

Be subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to a king as supreme

For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.

Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves.

For this finds God's favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly.

For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.

For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.

For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands,

Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord's face is against those who do evil.

For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.

Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.

For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.

Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God's standards.

For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.

Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you.

For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?

Give a shepherd's care to God's flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God's direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.

by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.

Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.

And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge;

For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.

For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.

For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.