[remember] that you were at that timeseparatefrom Christ,excludedfrom the commonwealthof Israel,and strangersto the covenantsof promise,havingnohopeand without Godin the world.
On that daythe LORDmadea covenantwith Abram,saying,"To your descendantsI have giventhisland,From the riverof Egyptas faras the greatriver,the riverEuphrates:
"For manydaysIsraelwas withoutthe true Godand withouta teachingpriestand withoutlaw.
But Zerubbabeland Jeshuaand the restof the headsof fathers'[households] of Israelsaidto them, "You have nothingin common with us in buildinga houseto our God;but we ourselveswill togetherbuildto the LORDGodof Israel,as KingCyrus,the kingof Persiahas commandedus."
"A sojourneror a hiredservantshall not eatof it.
Whenthe LORDwill havecompassionon Jacoband againchooseIsrael,and settlethem in their own land,then strangerswill jointhem and attachthemselves to the houseof Jacob.
"Thussaysthe LORD,the Kingof Israeland his Redeemer,the LORDof hosts:I am the firstand I am the last,And thereis noGodbesidesMe.
"Gatheryourselves and come;Drawneartogether,you fugitivesof the nations;They havenoknowledge,Who carryabout their woodenidolAnd prayto a godwho cannotsave.
Strangerswill standand pastureyour flocks,And foreignerswill be your farmersand your vinedressers.
"O Hopeof Israel,Its Saviorin timeof distress,Whyare You like a strangerin the landOr like a travelerwho has pitchedhis [tent] for the night?
O LORD,the hopeof Israel,Allwho forsakeYou will be putto shame.Those who turnawayon earthwill be writtendown,Becausethey have forsakenthe fountainof livingwater,even the LORD.
"So My handwill be againstthe prophetswho seefalse~visionsand utterlyingdivinations.They will havenoplacein the councilof My people,norwill they be writtendownin the registerof the houseof Israel,norwill they enterthe landof Israel,that you may knowthat I am the LordGOD.
"I will makea covenantof peacewith them; it will be an everlastingcovenantwith them. And I will placethem and multiplythem, and will setMy sanctuaryin their midstforever.
"You shall divideit by lotfor an inheritanceamong yourselves and among the alienswho stayin your midst,whobringforthsonsin your midst.And they shall be to you as the native-bornamong the sonsof Israel;they shall be allottedan inheritancewith you amongthe tribesof Israel.
For the sonsof Israelwill remainfor manydayswithoutkingor prince,withoutsacrificeor [sacred] pillarand withoutephodor householdidols.
"Allthe offeringsof the holy[gifts], whichthe sonsof Israelofferto the LORD,I have givento you and your sonsand your daughterswith you, as a perpetualallotment.It is an everlastingcovenantof saltbeforethe LORDto you and your descendantswith you."
To showmercytowardour fathers,And to rememberHis holycovenant,
"I haveothersheep,whichare not of thisfold;I mustbringthem also,and they will hearMy voice;and they will becomeoneflock[with] oneshepherd.
"I amthe vine,you are the branches;he who abidesin Me and I in him, he bearsmuchfruit,for apartfrom Me you candonothing.
"You worshipwhatyou do not know;we worshipwhatwe know,for salvationis from the Jews.
"For the promiseis for you and your childrenand for allwhoare far off,as manyas the Lordour Godwill callto Himself."
"For thisreason,therefore,I requestedto seeyou and to speakwith you, for I am wearingthischainfor the sakeof the hopeof Israel."
"It is you who are the sonsof the prophetsand of the covenantwhichGodmadewith your fathers,sayingto Abraham,AND IN YOUR SEEDALLTHE FAMILIESOF THE EARTHSHALL BE BLESSED.'
That is, it is not the childrenof the fleshwhoare childrenof God,but the childrenof the promiseare regardedas descendants.
Howeverat that time,when you did not knowGod,you were slavesto thosewhich by natureare nogods.
So thenyou are no longerstrangersand aliens,but you are fellow citizenswith the saints,and are of God'shousehold,
beingdarkenedin their understanding,excludedfrom the lifeof Godbecauseof the ignorancethat is in them, becauseof the hardnessof their heart;
And although you were formerlyalienatedand hostilein mind,[engaged] in evildeeds,
to whomGodwilledto make knownwhatis the richesof the gloryof thismysteryamongthe Gentiles,whichis Christin you, the hopeof glory.
becauseof the hopelaidup for you in heaven,of whichyou previously heardin the wordof truth,the gospel
But we do not wantyou to be uninformed,brethren,aboutthosewho are asleep,sothat you will not grieveas do the restwho havenohope.
not in lustfulpassion,likethe Gentileswho do not knowGod;
Nowmay our LordJesusChristHimselfand Godour Father,who has lovedus and givenus eternalcomfortand goodhopeby grace,
Paul,an apostleof ChristJesusaccordingto the commandmentof Godour Savior,and of ChristJesus,[who is] our hope,
quenchedthe powerof fire,escapedthe edgeof the sword,from weaknesswere made strong,becamemightyin war,putforeignarmiesto flight.
sothat by twounchangeablethingsin whichit is impossiblefor Godto lie,we who have taken refugewould havestrongencouragementto take holdof the hopeset beforeus.
But nowHe has obtaineda more excellentministry,by as muchas He is alsothe mediatorof a bettercovenant,whichhas been enactedon betterpromises.
who throughHim are believersin God,who raisedHim from the deadand gaveHim glory,sothat your faithand hopeare in God.
Blessedbe the Godand Fatherof our LordJesusChrist,who accordingto His greatmercyhas caused us to be born againto a livinghopethroughthe resurrectionof JesusChristfrom the dead,
but sanctifyChristas Lordin your hearts,always[being] readyto make a defenseto everyonewho asksyou to give an accountfor the hopethat is in you, yetwith gentlenessand reverence;
And everyonewho hasthishope[fixed] on Him purifieshimself,justas He is pure.
