Ifwe have hopedin Christin thislifeonly,we are of allmenmost to be pitied.
From menwith Your hand,O LORD,From menof the world,whose portionis in [this] life,And whose bellyYou fillwith Your treasure;They are satisfiedwith children,And leavetheir abundanceto their babes.
For thereare manywordswhich increasefutility.What[then] is the advantageto a man?
Enjoylifewith the womanwhomyou loveallthe daysof your fleetinglifewhichHe has givento you underthe sun; for thisis your rewardin lifeand in your toilin whichyou have laboredunderthe sun.
"Thenthey will deliveryou to tribulation,and will killyou, and you will be hatedby allnationsbecauseof My name.
"Be on guard,sothat your heartswill not be weighted downwith dissipationand drunkennessand the worriesof life,and that daywill not comeon you suddenlylikea trap;
"The [seed] which fellamongthe thorns,theseare the ones who have heard,and as they go on their waythey are chokedwith worriesand richesand pleasuresof [this] life,and bringnofruit to maturity.
"They will makeyou outcasts from the synagogue,but an houris comingfor everyonewho killsyou to thinkthat he is offeringserviceto God.
"These thingsI have spokento you, sothat in Me you may havepeace.In the worldyou havetribulation,but take courage;I have overcomethe world."
strengtheningthe soulsof the disciples,encouragingthem to continuein the faith,and [saying], "Throughmanytribulationswe mustenterthe kingdomof God."
constantlybearing in mindyour workof faithand laborof loveand steadfastnessof hopein our LordJesusChristin the presenceof our Godand Father,
For thisreasonI alsosufferthese things,but I am not ashamed;for I knowwhomI have believedand I am convincedthat He is ableto guardwhat I have entrustedto Him untilthat day.
Nosoldier in active serviceentangleshimself in the affairsof everyday life,sothat he may pleasethe one who enlisted him as a soldier.
Indeed,allwho desireto livegodlyin ChristJesuswill be persecuted.
who throughHim are believersin God,who raisedHim from the deadand gaveHim glory,sothat your faithand hopeare in God.
And I hearda voicefrom heaven,saying,"Write,Blessedare the deadwho diein the Lordfrom nowon!'" "Yes,"saysthe Spirit,"sothat they may restfrom their labors,for their deedsfollowwith them."
