Hebrews 11
11Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.G1161G4102G2076G5287G1679G1650G4229G3756G991 2Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.G1063G1722G5026G4245G3140 3By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.G4102G3539G165G2675G4487G2316G1519G3588G991G1096G3361G1096G1537G5316 4It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.G4102G6G4374G2316G4119G2378G3844G2535G1223G3739G3140G1511G1342G2316G3140G1909G846G1435G2532G1223G846G599G2089G2980G2980 5It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—"he disappeared, because God took him." For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.G4102G1802G3346G1492G3361G1492G2288G2532G2147G3756G2147G1360G2316G3346G846G1063G4253G846G3331G3140G2100G2316 6And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.G1161G5565G4102G102G2100G1063G4334G2316G1163G4100G3754G2076G2532G1096G3406G1567G846 7It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.G4102G3575G5537G4012G3369G991G3369G2125G2680G2787G1519G4991G846G3624G1223G3739G2632G2889G2532G1096G2818G1343G2596G4102 8It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.G4102G11G2564G1831G1519G5117G3739G3195G2983G1519G2817G5219G2532G1831G3361G1987G4226G2064 9And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.G4102G3939G1519G1093G1860G5613G245G2730G1722G4633G3326G2464G2532G2384G4789G846G1860 10Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.G1063G1551G4172G2192G2310G3739G5079G2532G1217G2316 11It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.G4102G2532G4564G846G2983G1411G1519G2602G4690G2532G5088G3844G2540G2244G1893G2233G4103G1861 12And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.G1352G1080G2532G575G1520G2532G5023G3499G2531G798G3772G4128G2532G5616G285G3588G3844G2281G5491G382 13All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.G3778G3956G599G2596G4102G3361G2983G1860G235G1492G846G4207G2532G3982G2532G782G2532G3670G3754G1526G3581G2532G3927G1909G1093 14Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.G1063G3004G5108G1718G3754G1934G3968 15If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.G2532G3303G1487G3421G1565G575G3739G1831G302G2192G2540G344 16But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.G1161G3570G3713G2909G5123G2032G1352G2316G1870G3756G1870G846G1941G846G2316G1063G2090G846G4172 17It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God's promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac,G4102G11G3985G4374G2464G2532G324G1860G4374G3439 18even though God had told him, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted."G4314G3739G2980G3754G1722G2464G2564G4671G4690G2564 19Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.G3049G3754G2316G1415G1453G2532G1537G3498G3606G2532G2865G846G1722G3850 20It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.G4102G2464G2127G2384G2532G2269G4012G3195 21It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.G4102G2384G599G2127G1538G5207G2501G2532G4352G1909G206G846G4464 22It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.G4102G2501G5053G3421G4012G1841G5207G2474G2532G1781G4012G846G3747 23It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's command.G4102G3475G1080G2928G5150G5259G846G3962G1360G1492G791G3813G2532G5399G3756G5399G935G1297 24It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.G4102G3475G1096G3173G720G3004G5207G5328G2364 25He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.G138G3123G4778G2992G2316G2228G2192G619G266G4340 26He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.G2233G3680G5547G3187G4149G2233G2344G1722G125G1063G578G1519G3405 27It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.G4102G2641G125G3361G5399G2372G935G1063G2594G5613G3708G517 28It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.G4102G4160G3957G2532G4378G129G3363G3645G4416G2345G846 29It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.G4102G1224G2063G2281G5613G1223G3584G3739G124G3984G2983G2666 30It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.G4102G5038G2410G4098G2944G1909G2033G2250 31It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.G4102G4204G4460G4881G3756G544G1209G2685G3326G1515 32How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.G2532G5101G3004G2089G3004G1063G5550G1952G3165G1334G4012G1066G5037G913G2532G4546G2532G2422G1138G2532G5037G4545G2532G4396 33By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,G3739G1223G4102G2610G932G2038G1343G2013G1860G5420G4750G3023 34quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.G4570G1411G4442G5343G4750G3162G575G769G1743G1096G2478G1722G4171G2827G3925G245 35Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.G1135G2983G846G3498G1537G386G1161G243G5178G3756G4327G629G2443G5177G2909G386 36Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.G1161G2087G2983G3984G1701G2532G3148G1161G2089G1199G2532G5438 37Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.G3034G4249G3985G599G1722G5408G3162G4022G1722G3374G1722G122G1192G5302G2346G2558 38They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.G3739G2889G2258G3756G514G4105G1722G2047G2532G3735G2532G4693G2532G3692G1093 39All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.G2532G3778G3956G3140G1223G4102G2865G3756G1860 40For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.G2316G4265G5100G2909G5100G4012G2257G3363G5048G5565G2257G5048G3363G5048
Hebrews 12
12Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.G5105G2532G2192G4029G2254G5118G3509G3144G659G2249G659G3956G3591G2532G266G2139G5143G1223G5281G73G4295G22542We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.G872G1519G2424G747G2532G5051G4102G3739G473G5479G4295G846G5278G4716G2706G152G5037G2523G1722G1188G2362G23163Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up.G1063G357G5278G5108G485G5259G268G1519G846G3363G2577G1590G5216G55904After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.G478G3768G478G3360G129G464G4314G2665And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you.G2532G1585G3874G3748G1256G5213G5613G5207G3450G5207G3643G3361G3643G3809G2962G3366G1590G1651G5259G8466For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."G1063G3739G2962G25G3811G1161G3146G3956G5207G3739G38587As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?G1487G5278G3809G2316G4374G5213G5613G5207G1063G5101G5207G2076G3739G3962G3811G37568If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.G1161G1487G2075G5565G3809G3739G3956G1096G3353G686G2075G3541G2532G3756G52079Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?G1534G3303G2192G3962G2257G4561G3810G2532G1788G5293G3756G4183G3123G5293G3962G4151G2532G219810For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.G1063G3303G4314G3641G2250G3811G2596G846G1380G1161G1909G4851G1519G3335G846G4111No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.G1161G3956G3756G3809G4314G3303G3918G1380G1511G5479G235G3077G1161G5305G591G1516G2590G1343G1128G1223G84612So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.G1352G461G5495G3935G2532G3886G111913Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.G2532G4160G3717G5163G5216G4228G3363G5560G1624G1161G2390G3123G239014Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.G1377G1515G3326G3956G2532G38G5565G3739G3762G3700G296215Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.G1983G3361G5100G5302G575G5485G2316G3361G5100G4491G4088G5453G507G1776G2532G1223G5026G4183G339216Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.G3361G5100G4205G2228G952G5613G2269G3739G473G3391G1035G591G846G441517You know that afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.G1063G2467G3754G2532G3347G2309G2816G2129G593G1063G2147G3756G5117G3341G2539G1567G846G1567G3326G114418You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai.G1063G4334G3756G4334G3735G5584G2532G2545G4442G2532G1105G2532G4655G2532G236619For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.G2532G2279G4536G2532G5456G4487G3739G191G3868G3056G4369G3361G4369G846G336120They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."G1063G5342G3756G5342G1291G2579G2342G2345G3735G3036G2228G2700G100221Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."G2532G3779G5398G2258G5324G3475G2036G1630G1510G2532G179022No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.G235G4334G3735G4622G2532G4172G2198G2316G2032G2419G2532G3461G3223You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.G3831G2532G1577G4416G583G1722G3772G2532G2316G2923G3956G2532G4151G1342G504824You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.G2532G2424G3316G3501G1242G2532G129G4473G2980G2909G3844G625Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!G991G3868G3361G2980G1063G1487G1565G5343G3756G3868G5537G1909G1093G4183G3123G2249G654G575G377226When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also."G3739G5456G5119G4531G1093G1161G3568G1861G3004G2089G530G1473G4579G3756G1093G3440G235G2532G377227This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.G1161G2089G530G1213G3331G4531G5613G4160G2443G3361G4531G330628Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.G1352G3880G932G761G2192G5485G1223G3739G3000G2316G2102G3326G127G2532G212429For our God is a devouring fire.G2532G1063G2257G2316G2654G4442
Hebrews 13
13Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.G3306G5360G3306 2Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!G1950G3361G1950G5381G1063G1223G5026G5100G3579G32G2990 3Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.G3403G1198G5613G4887G2558G5613G5607G846G2532G1722G4983 4Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.G1062G5093G1722G3956G2532G2845G283G1161G4205G2532G3432G2316G2919 5Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."G5158G866G714G3918G1063G846G2046G3364G447G4571G3761G3364G1459G4571 6So we can say with confidence, "The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"G5620G2248G2292G3004G2962G1698G998G2532G5399G3756G5399G5101G444G4160G3427 7Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.G3421G2233G5216G3748G2980G5213G3056G2316G3739G4102G3401G333G1545G391 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.G2424G5547G846G5504G2532G4594G2532G1519G165 9So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.G4064G3361G4064G4164G2532G3581G1322G1063G2570G2588G950G5485G3756G1033G5623G3756G5623G4043G1722G3739 10We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat.G2192G2379G1537G3739G2192G3756G1849G5315G3000G4633 11Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp.G1063G4983G5130G2226G3739G129G1533G1519G39G1223G749G4012G266G2618G1854G3925 12So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.G1352G2424G2532G2443G37G2992G1223G2398G129G3958G1854G4439 13So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore.G1831G5106G4314G846G1854G3925G5342G846G3680 14For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.G1063G5602G2192G3756G3306G4172G235G1934G3195 15Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.G1223G846G3767G399G2378G133G2316G1275G5123G2590G5491G3670G846G3686 16And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.G1161G2140G2532G2842G1950G3361G1063G5108G2378G2316G2100 17Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.G3982G2233G5216G2532G5226G1063G846G69G5228G5216G5590G5613G591G3056G2443G4160G5124G3326G5479G2532G3361G4727G1063G5124G255G5213 18Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.G4336G4012G2257G1063G3754G3982G2192G2570G4893G1722G3956G2309G390G2573 19And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.G1161G3870G4056G4160G5124G2443G600G5213G5032 20Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—G1161G2316G1515G321G1537G3498G2257G2962G2424G3173G4166G4263G1722G129G166G1242 21may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.G2675G5209G2675G1722G3956G18G2041G1519G4160G846G2307G4160G1722G5213G2101G846G1799G1223G2424G5547G3739G1391G1519G165G165G281 22I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.G1161G3870G5209G80G430G3056G3874G1063G2532G1989G5213G1223G1024 23I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.G1097G80G5095G630G3326G3739G1437G2064G5032G3700G5209 24Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings.G782G3956G2233G5216G2532G3956G40G575G2482G782G5209 25May God's grace be with you all.G5485G3326G5216G3956G281
Psalms 30
30[A psalm of David. A song for the dedication of the Temple.] I will exalt you, LORD, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.H4210H7892H2598H1004H1732H7311H3068H1802H341H80552O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health.H3068H430H7768H74953You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.H3068H5927H5315H7585H2421H3381H3381H9534Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.H2167H3068H2623H3034H2143H69445For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.H639H7281H7522H2416H1065H3885H6153H7440H12426When I was prosperous, I said, "Nothing can stop me now!"H7959H559H5769H41317Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.H3068H7522H2042H5975H5797H5641H6440H9268I cried out to you, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,H7121H3068H3068H26039"What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave? Can my dust praise you? Can it tell of your faithfulness?H1215H1818H3381H7845H6083H3034H5046H57110Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD."H8085H3068H2603H3068H582611You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,H2015H4553H4234H6605H8242H247H805712that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!H3519H2167H1826H3068H430H3034H5769
Dublin, OH
For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.G4102
