By faithAbraham,when he was tested,offeredup Isaac,and he who had receivedthe promiseswas offeringup his only begotten[son];
and said,"By Myself I have sworn,declaresthe LORD,becauseyou have donethisthingand have not withheldyour son,your onlyson,
Even[in the matter of] the envoysof the rulersof Babylon,who sentto him to inquireof the wonderthat had happenedin the land,Godlefthim [alone only] to testhim, that He might knowallthat was in his heart.
The refiningpotis for silverand the furnacefor gold,But the LORDtestshearts.
"Someof those who haveinsightwill fall,in order to refine,purgeand makethem pureuntilthe endtime;because[it is] still[to come] at the appointedtime.
"And I will bringthe thirdpartthrough the fire,Refinethem as silveris refined,And testthem as goldis tested.They will callon My name,And I will answerthem; I will say,They are My people,'And they will say,'The LORDis my God.'"
"For Godsolovedthe world,that He gaveHis only begottenSon,that whoeverbelievesin Him shall not perish,but haveeternallife.
For ifthe readinessis present,it is acceptableaccordingto what [a person] has,not accordingto what he does not have.
"You shall rememberallthe waywhichthe LORDyour Godhas ledyou in the wildernessthesefortyyears,that He might humbleyou, testingyou, to knowwhatwas in your heart,whether you would keepHis commandmentsornot.
Allthesediedin faith,withoutreceivingthe promises,but having seenthem and having welcomedthem from a distance,and having confessedthat they were strangersand exileson the earth.
But the one whose genealogy is not tracedfrom them collected a tenthfrom Abrahamand blessedthe one who hadthe promises.
We countthoseblessedwho endured.You have heardof the enduranceof Joband have seenthe outcomeof the Lord'sdealings, that the Lordis full of compassionand [is] merciful.
Beloved,do not be surprisedat the fiery ordealamongyou, which comesupon you for your testing,as thoughsome strange thingwere happeningto you;
Becauseyou have keptthe wordof My perseverance,I alsowill keepyou from the hourof testing,that [hour] which is aboutto comeupon the wholeworld,to testthosewho dwellon the earth.
