Do you not knowthat thosewho runin a raceallrun,but [only] onereceivesthe prize?Runin such a waythat you may win.
Whichis as a bridegroomcomingout of his chamber;It rejoicesas a strongmanto runhis course.
I againsawunderthe sunthat the raceis not to the swiftand the battleis not to the warriors,and neitheris breadto the wisenorwealthto the discerningnorfavorto men of ability;for timeand chanceovertakethem all.
"Ifyou have runwith footmenand they have tiredyou out, Then howcan you competewith horses?If you falldownin a landof peace,Howwill you doin the thicketof the Jordan?
I have also spokento the prophets,And I gavenumerousvisions,And throughthe prophetsI gaveparables.
Do you not knowthat whenyou presentyourselvesto someone[as] slavesfor obedience,you are slavesof the one whomyou obey,eitherof sinresultingin death,orof obedienceresultingin righteousness?
Do you not knowthat thosewho performsacred serviceseatthe [food] of the temple,[and] thosewho attend regularlyto the altarhave their sharefrom the altar?
I doall thingsfor the sakeof the gospel,sothat I may becomea fellow partakerof it.
ThereforeI runin sucha way,as not without aim;I boxin such a way,as not beatingthe air;
It was becauseof a revelationthat I wentup; and I submittedto them the gospelwhichI preachamongthe Gentiles,but [I did so] in privateto thosewho were of reputation,for fearthat I might be running,orhad run,in vain.
You were runningwell;whohinderedyou from obeyingthe truth?
holding fastthe wordof life,sothat in the dayof ChristI will have reason to glorybecauseI did not runin vainnortoilin vain.
Not that I have alreadyobtained[it] orhave alreadybecome perfect,but I presson sothat I may layholdof that for whichalsoI was laid holdof by ChristJesus.
I presson towardthe goalfor the prizeof the upwardcallof Godin ChristJesus.
Let no onekeep defrauding you of your prizeby delightingin self-abasementand the worshipof the angels,taking his standon [visions] he has seen,inflatedwithout causeby his fleshlymind,
Therefore,since we haveso greata cloudof witnessessurroundingus, let us alsolay asideeveryencumbranceand the sinwhich so easily entanglesus, and let us runwith endurancethe racethat is set beforeus,
Blessedis a manwhoperseveresunder trial;for once he has beenapproved,he will receivethe crownof lifewhich[the Lord] has promisedto thosewho loveHim.
I am comingquickly;hold fastwhatyou have,sothat no onewill takeyour crown.
