Blessedis a manwhoperseveresunder trial;for once he has beenapproved,he will receivethe crownof lifewhich[the Lord] has promisedto thosewho loveHim.
Now it cameabout afterthesethings,that GodtestedAbraham,and saidto him, "Abraham!"And he said,"HereI am."
I said,"I beseechYou, O LORDGodof heaven,the greatand awesomeGod,who preservesthe covenantand lovingkindnessfor those who loveHim and keepHis commandments,
But he saidto her, "You speakas oneof the foolishwomenspeaks.Shall we indeedacceptgoodfrom Godand not acceptadversity?"In allthisJobdid not sinwith his lips.
"Behold,how happyis the manwhom Godreproves,So do not despisethe disciplineof the Almighty.
The LORDteststhe righteousand the wicked,And the one who lovesviolenceHis soulhates.
BeforeI was afflictedI wentastray,But nowI keepYour word.
It is goodfor me that I was afflicted,That I may learnYour statutes.
I know,O LORD,that Your judgmentsare righteous,And that in faithfulnessYou have afflictedme.
But let allwho takerefugein You be glad,Let them eversingfor joy;And may You shelterthem, That those who loveYour namemay exultin You.
Blessedis the manwhomYou chasten,O LORD,And whom You teachout of Your law;
but showinglovingkindnessto thousands,to those who loveMe and keepMy commandments.
The refiningpotis for silverand the furnacefor gold,But the LORDtestshearts.
For from daysof oldthey have not heardorperceivedby ear,Norhas the eyeseena GodbesidesYou, Who actsin behalf of the one who waitsfor Him.
"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.'"
"You will be hatedby allbecauseof My name,but it is the one who has enduredto the endwho will be saved.
"Thenthe Kingwill sayto thoseon His right,'Come,you who are blessedof My Father,inheritthe kingdompreparedfor you from the foundationof the world.
"Blessedare you whenmenhateyou, and ostracizeyou, and insultyou, and scornyour nameas evil,for the sakeof the Sonof Man.
and perseverance,provencharacter; and proven character,hope;
And we knowthat Godcausesall thingsto work togetherfor goodto thosewho loveGod,to thosewho are calledaccordingto [His] purpose.
but justas it is written,"THINGS WHICHEYEHAS NOT SEENAND EARHAS NOT HEARD,AND [which] HAVE NOT ENTEREDTHE HEARTOF MAN,ALLTHAT GODHAS PREPAREDFOR THOSEWHO LOVEHIM."
but ifanyonelovesGod,he is knownby Him.
Everyonewho competes in the gamesexercises self-controlin all things.They then[do it] to receivea perishablewreath,but we an imperishable.
you shall not listento the wordsof that prophetorthat dreamerof dreams;for the LORDyour Godis testingyou to findout if you lovethe LORDyour Godwith allyour heartand with allyour soul.
"Knowtherefore that the LORDyour God,He is God,the faithfulGod,who keepsHis covenantand His lovingkindnessto a thousandthgenerationwith those who loveHim and keepHis commandments;
"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.
Be diligentto presentyourselfapprovedto Godas a workmanwho does not need to be ashamed,accurately handlingthe wordof truth.
in the futurethere is laidup for me the crownof righteousness,whichthe Lord,the righteousJudge,will awardto me on that day;and not onlyto me, but alsoto allwho have lovedHis appearing.
But rememberthe formerdays,when,after being enlightened,you endureda greatconflictof sufferings,
By faithAbraham,when he was tested,offeredup Isaac,and he who had receivedthe promiseswas offeringup his only begotten[son];
and you have forgottenthe exhortationwhichis addressedto you as sons,"MY SON,DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLYTHE DISCIPLINEOF THE LORD,NORFAINTWHEN YOU ARE REPROVEDBY HIM;
And so,having patiently waited,he obtainedthe promise.
Listen,my belovedbrethren:did not Godchoosethe poorof thisworld[to be] richin faithand heirsof the kingdomwhichHe promisedto thosewho loveHim?
We countthoseblessedwho endured.You have heardof the enduranceof Joband have seenthe outcomeof the Lord'sdealings, that the Lordis full of compassionand [is] merciful.
But evenifyou should sufferfor the sakeof righteousness,you are blessed.AND DO NOT FEARTHEIR INTIMIDATION,AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
but to the degreethat you sharethe sufferingsof Christ,keep on rejoicing,sothat alsoat the revelationof His gloryyou may rejoicewith exultation.
Ifyou are reviledfor the nameof Christ,you are blessed,becausethe Spiritof gloryand of Godrestson you.
After you have sufferedfor a little while,the Godof allgrace,who calledyou to His eternalgloryin Christ,will Himselfperfect,confirm,strengthen[and] establishyou.
And when the Chief Shepherdappears,you will receivethe unfadingcrownof glory.
We love,becauseHe firstlovedus.
Do not fearwhatyou are aboutto suffer.Behold,the devilis aboutto castsome of you into prison,sothat you will be tested,and you will havetribulationfor tendays.Be faithfuluntildeath,and I will giveyou the crownof life.
Those whomI love,I reproveand discipline;thereforebe zealousand repent.
He who overcomes,I will grantto him to sitdownwith Me on My throne,as I alsoovercameand sat downwith My Fatheron His throne.
