sothat you will not be sluggish,but imitatorsof thosewho throughfaithand patienceinheritthe promises.
Rememberthosewho ledyou, whospokethe wordof Godto you; and consideringthe resultof their conduct,imitatetheir faith.
For you haveneedof endurance,sothat when you have donethe willof God,you may receivewhat was promised.
Thisis the promisewhichHe Himselfmadeto us: eternallife.
not lagging behindin diligence,ferventin spirit,servingthe Lord;
Concerninghim we have muchto say,and [it is] hard to explain,sinceyou have becomedullof hearing.
Therefore,brethren,be all the morediligentto makecertainabout His callingand choosingyou; for as long as you practicethese things,you will neverstumble;
knowingthat the testingof your faithproducesendurance.
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,
Are they not allministeringspirits,sentout to render servicefor the sakeof thosewho willinheritsalvation?
and the fatherof circumcisionto thosewho not onlyare of the circumcision,but who alsofollowin the stepsof the faithof our fatherAbrahamwhich he had while uncircumcised.
to thosewho by perseverancein doinggoodseekfor gloryand honorand immortality,eternallife;
Thussaysthe LORD,"Standby the waysand seeand askfor the ancientpaths,Wherethe goodwayis, and walkin it; And you will findrestfor your souls.But they said,'We will not walk[in it].'
He alsowho is slackin his workIs brotherto him who destroys.
Ifanyone[is destined] for captivity,to captivityhe goes;ifanyonekillswith the sword,with the swordhe mustbe killed.Hereis the perseveranceand the faithof the saints.
whoby faithconqueredkingdoms,performed[acts of] righteousness,obtainedpromises,shutthe mouthsof lions,
And so,having patiently waited,he obtainedthe promise.
therefore,we ourselvesspeak proudlyof you amongthe churchesof Godfor your perseveranceand faithin the midst of allyour persecutionsand afflictionswhichyou endure.
"But the [seed] in the goodsoil,theseare the ones whohave heardthe wordin an honestand goodheart,and hold it fast,and bear fruitwith perseverance.
I AMTHE GODOF ABRAHAM,AND THE GODOF ISAAC,AND THE GODOF JACOB?He is not the Godof the deadbut of the living."
The wayof the lazyis as a hedgeof thorns,But the pathof the uprightis a highway.
The soulof the sluggardcravesand [gets] nothing,But the soulof the diligentis madefat.
The handof the diligentwill rule,But the slack[hand] will be put to forcedlabor.
constantlybearing in mindyour workof faithand laborof loveand steadfastnessof hopein our LordJesusChristin the presenceof our Godand Father,
"Nowthe poor mandiedand was carried awayby the angelsto Abraham'sbosom;and the rich manalsodiedand was buried.
"But his masteransweredand saidto him, 'You wicked,lazyslave,you knewthat I reapwhereI did not sowand gatherwhereI scatteredno[seed].
"Ifyou yourself do not know,Most beautifulamong women,Goforthon the trailof the flockAnd pastureyour younggoatsBy the tentsof the shepherds.
Soyou will walkin the wayof goodmenAnd keepto the pathsof the righteous.
He who leadsthe uprightastrayin an evilwayWill himselffallinto his own pit,But the blamelesswill inheritgood.
[As] the doorturnson its hinges,So [does] the sluggardon his bed.
