by this we were comforted in you, my brethren, under all our affliction and distress, because of your faith:

For ye know how ye ought to imitate us: for we were not disorderly among you;

For when we were with you, we gave you this charge, if any will not work, neither let him eat.

The sins of some men are notorious, leading as it were to their condemnation; and some more artful they follow after.

for whose sake I suffer trouble even unto bonds, as if I were a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.

For we also were formerly foolish, disobedient, going astray, enslaved to various disorderly appetites and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

But I would do nothing without thy knowledge, that thy kindness might not be as it were forced, but voluntary.

and deliver those who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage.

Now Moses was indeed faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of the things which were to be spoken:

and to whom did He swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to those that were disobedient?

for we are graciously offered it, as they also were. But the word, which they heard, did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

For we who believe shall enter into rest, as He said above, "So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest:" though the works of creation were finished from the foundation of the world:

who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Spirit,

Now if perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law) what farther need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron?

And they were many priests, because they were by death hindered from continuing in their office;

For if He were on earth, He could not be a priest, seeing there are priests already that offer gifts according to the law:

relating only to meats and drinks, and different washings, and such carnal ordinances as were required till the time of reformation.

For Christ is not entered into holy places made with hands, which were but types of the true ones; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

partly, being made a public spectacle by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, as ye became associates of those who were so treated:

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, for the things which are seen were not made of things which appear.

By faith Noah being warned by God of things which were not yet seen, moved with pious fear, prepared an ark for the safety of his family; whereby he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seen them from afar, and been persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.

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

By faith they passed through the Red-sea, as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.

quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned to flight the armies of their enemies.

Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured to death, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain by the sword: they went about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted,

Be ruled by those that are your guides, and submit to them: for they watch for your souls; (as those that must give an account) that they may do it with joy and not with uneasiness: for this were unprofitable for you.

searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did declare in testifying beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ, and the glories following them:

knowing that ye were redeemed from your vain conversation learned by tradition from your fathers, not with corruptible things, as silver and gold;

and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. These stumble at the word through unbelief, unto which also they were appointed.

who heretofore were not a people, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now turned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

who of old were disobedient, when the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing; wherein a few, that is eight souls, were saved by water.

For we did not follow artfully devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; but were eye-witnesses of his majesty.

And this voice, from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.

for prophecy was not delivered of old at the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit.

But there were indeed false prophets among the people of old, as there will be also among you false teachers, who will privately introduce pernicious heresies, denying even the Lord that bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction,

walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the declaration of his coming? for except that the fathers are fallen asleep, all things remain as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For they are willingly ignorant of this, that by the Word of God the heavens were made of old, and the earth too from the water, and subsisting on the water.

They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been indeed of us, they would have continued with us; but this was done that they might be made manifest, because all, that are with us, are not indeed of us.

and why did he slay him? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

But, beloved, remember the words which were formerly spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they told you,

His head and his hairs were white like white wool, as white as snow; and his eyes as a flame of fire;

and his feet like fine brass, as if they were glowing in a furnace: and his voice as the sound of many waters:

And around the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw twenty four elders sitting, clothed in white garments; and they had upon their heads crowns of gold.

And out of the throne came lightnings, and thunders, and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne; which are the seven spirits of God.

And before the throne was a sea of glass, like crystal: and in the middle of the throne, and the circle of it, were four animate beings full of eyes before and behind.

And the four animals had each of them six wings round about, and within were full of eyes; and they cease not day and night saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.

and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy art thou, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and by thy will they exist, and were created.

And white robes were given to each of them, and it was told them to rest a little while longer, till the number of their fellow-servants, and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be complete.

and the heaven passed away as a book rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places:

And I heard the number of those that were sealed; and there were an hundred forty and four thousand sealed out of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand: of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand: of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand:

of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand: of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand: of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand:

of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand: of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand: of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand:

of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand: of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand: of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

and I saw the seven angels, that stood before God; and seven trumpets were given to them.

And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

And the second angel sounded, and I saw as it were a great mountain on fire cast into the sea, and a third part of the sea became blood.

And a third part of the creatures in the sea, that had life, died; and a third part of the ships were destroyed.

and a third part of the waters became as wormwood: and many men died of the waters, because they were bitter.

And he opened the bottomless pit: and there came up smoke out of the pit as the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.

And the resemblance of the locusts was like horses prepared for war; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces as the faces of men.

And they had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

And they had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

And the four angels were let loose; who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to kill the third part of men.

And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those that sat on them, that is, having breast-plates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, and smoke, and brimstone.

And by these three things, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which came out of their mouths, the third part of men were killed.

And the rest of the men, who were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:

And at that time there was a great earthquake, and a tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were killed seven thousand men: and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

And the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Anointed, and He shall reign for ever and ever.

The nations were enraged, but thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and to give a reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to those that fear thy name, small and great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.

And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.

and there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

And I saw one of his heads as it were mortally wounded, but his deadly wound was healed: and all the earth wondered and went after the beast.

and they sung as it were a new song before the throne; and before the four living ones, and the elders: and none could learn the song, but the hundred and forty four thousand, who are redeemed from the earth.

These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins: these are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth: these were redeemed from among men, as the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb.

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and those that had gained the victory from the beast, and from his image, and from his mark, and from the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, and having harps to celebrate the praises of God.

And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues, and they repented not to give Him glory.

And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as never was since there were men upon the earth, so violent and so great.

And every island fled, and the mountains were not found.

And they threw dust on their heads, and cried out, weeping and moaning, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, in which all that had ships at sea were enriched by her sumptuous expences! for in one hour she is become desolate.

And the light of a candle shall be seen in thee no more; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride shall be heard no more in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, and by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

And herein was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the noise of many waters, and as the sound of mighty thunders, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God the almighty reigneth.

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who had wrought signs before him, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

And the rest were slain with the sword of Him that sitteth upon the horse, the sword that cometh out of his mouth: and all the fowls of heaven were satiated with their flesh.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged by the things written in the books, according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every one according to their works.

And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death.

having also a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and there were names inscribed, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.

And the foundations of the wall of the city were set off each with precious stones: the first foundation a jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony,

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of the gates was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold like resplendent glass.