choosingratherto endure ill-treatmentwith the peopleof Godthanto enjoythe passingpleasuresof sin,
That the triumphingof the wickedis short,And the joyof the godlessmomentary?
"Be careful,do not turnto evil,For you have preferredthisto affliction.
The princesof the peoplehave assembledthemselves [as] the peopleof the Godof Abraham,For the shieldsof the earthbelong to God;He is highlyexalted.
For a dayin Your courtsis betterthana thousand[outside]. I would rather standat the thresholdof the houseof my GodThandwellin the tentsof wickedness.
My mindreels,horroroverwhelmsme; The twilightI longedfor has been turnedfor me into trembling.
"But [even] if[He does] not, let it be knownto you, O king,that we are not going to serveyour godsor worshipthe goldenimagethat you have setup."
yethe hasno[firm] rootin himself,but is [only] temporary,and when afflictionorpersecutionarisesbecauseof the word,immediatelyhe falls away.
"But Abrahamsaid,'Child,rememberthat duringyour lifeyou receivedyour good things,and likewiseLazarusbad things;but nowhe is being comfortedhere,and you are in agony.
I HAVE CERTAINLY SEENTHE OPPRESSIONOF MY PEOPLEIN EGYPTAND HAVE HEARDTHEIR GROANS,AND I HAVE COME DOWNTO RESCUETHEM; COMENOW,AND I WILL SENDYOU TO EGYPT.'
And not onlythis, but we alsoexultin our tribulations,knowingthat tribulationbrings aboutperseverance;
Thereforeifanyoneis in Christ,[he is] a newcreature;the old thingspassed away;behold,new thingshave come.
NowI rejoicein my sufferingsfor your sake,and in my fleshI do my shareon behalfof His body,whichis the church,in fillingup whatis lackingin Christ'safflictions.
Thereforedo not be ashamedof the testimonyof our Lordorof me His prisoner,but join with [me] in sufferingfor the gospelaccordingto the powerof God,
But rememberthe formerdays,when,after being enlightened,you endureda greatconflictof sufferings,
They were stoned,they were sawn in two,they were tempted,they were put to deathwith the sword;they went aboutin sheepskins,in goatskins,being destitute,afflicted,ill-treated
Sothere remainsa Sabbath restfor the peopleof God.
for the angerof mandoes not achievethe righteousnessof God.
You have lived luxuriouslyon the earthand led a life of wanton pleasure;you have fattenedyour heartsin a dayof slaughter.
for you oncewere NOT A PEOPLE,but nowyou are THE PEOPLEOF GOD;you had NOT RECEIVEDMERCY,but nowyou have RECEIVED MERCY.
"To the degreethat she glorifiedherselfand lived sensuously,to the same degreegiveher tormentand mourning;for she saysin her heart,I SIT[as] A QUEENAND I AMNOT A WIDOW,and will neverseemourning.'
