For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

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

concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

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

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

Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

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

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

looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him who has endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you do not grow weary in your souls and lose heart.

It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

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

Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,

and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.

For you have not come to something that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and darkness, gloom, and storm,

the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,

for they could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned;"

and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling."

to Jesus, the mediator of a New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

This phrase, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

So since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, through which we may offer service pleasing to God, with reverence and awe,

So that with good courage we say, "The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.

For we do not have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.

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

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.

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

I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.

make you complete 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 forever. Amen.

Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.

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.

You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

But do you want to know, foolish man, that faith apart from works is useless?

Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;

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

In like manner was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

Now if we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we guide their whole body.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy.

Where do conflicts and quarrels among you come from? Do they not come from your passions that war in your members?

You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit which he made to dwell in us yearns jealously"?

Whereas you do not know what tomorrow will be like. What is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

For you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that."

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you.

Do not grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won't be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.

But above all things, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no;" so that you do not fall under judgment.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous person is powerfully effective.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you,

that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ?

Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that would follow them.

To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ?

knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,

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

as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby to salvation,

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

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

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by his stripes you were healed.

In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any do not obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word;

You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; because to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

Now who is he who will harm you, if you become zealous of that which is good?

But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with humility and fear:

having a good conscience; so that when they speak evil against you, they may be put to shame who slander your good manner of life in Christ.

For it is better, if it is God's will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.

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

who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved by means of water.

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

They think it is strange that you do not run with them into the same flood of debauchery, blaspheming:

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

If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

But because you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed.

When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

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

Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;

by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.