"Rejoiceand be glad,for your rewardin heavenis great;for in the same waythey persecutedthe prophetswho were beforeyou.
Afterthesethingsthe wordof the LORDcameto Abramin a vision,saying,"Do not fear,Abram,I am a shieldto you; Your rewardshall be verygreat."
"Has it not been toldto my masterwhatI didwhen Jezebelkilledthe prophetsof the LORD,that I hida hundredprophetsof the LORDby fiftiesin a cave,and providedthem with breadand water?
for when Jezebeldestroyedthe prophetsof the LORD,Obadiahtooka hundredprophetsand hidthem by fiftiesin a cave,and providedthem with breadand water.)
Then Jezebelsenta messengerto Elijah,saying,"Somay the godsdoto me and evenmore,ifI do not makeyour lifeas the lifeof oneof them by tomorrowabout this time."
Ahabsaidto Elijah,"Have you foundme, O my enemy?"And he answered,"I have found[you], becauseyou have soldyourself to doevilin the sightof the LORD.
The kingof Israelsaidto Jehoshaphat,"There is yetonemanby whom we may inquireof the LORD,but I hatehim, becausehe does not prophesygoodconcerningme, but evil.[He is] Micaiahsonof Imlah."But Jehoshaphatsaid,"Let not the kingsayso."
Then [the king] sentto him a captainof fiftywith his fifty.And he wentup to him, and behold,he was sittingon the topof the hill.And he saidto him, "O manof God,the kingsays,'Comedown.'"
Then Asawas angrywith the seerand puthim in prison,for he was enragedat him for this.And Asaoppressedsomeof the peopleat the sametime.
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
"But they becamedisobedientand rebelledagainst You, And castYour lawbehindtheir backsAnd killedYour prophetswhohad admonishedthem So that they might returnto You, And they committedgreatblasphemies.
Moreover,by them Your servantis warned;In keepingthem there is greatreward.
And menwill say,"Surelythere is a rewardfor the righteous;Surelythereis a Godwho judgeson earth!"
The wickedearnsdeceptivewages,But he who sowsrighteousness[gets] a true reward.
Sayto the righteousthat [it will go] well[with them], For they will eatthe fruitof their actions.
"In vainI have struckyour sons;They acceptednochastening.Your swordhas devouredyour prophetsLike a destroyinglion.
When Jeremiahfinishedspeakingallthat the LORDhad commanded[him] to speakto allthe people,the priestsand the prophetsand allthe peopleseizedhim, saying,"You mustdie!
But Jeremiahsaid,"A lie!I am not goingoverto the Chaldeans";yet he would not listento him. So IrijaharrestedJeremiahand broughthim to the officials.
"For the Sonof Manis goingto comein the gloryof His Fatherwith His angels,and WILL THENREPAYEVERY MANACCORDINGTO HIS DEEDS.
"Wheneveryou fast,do not puton a gloomy faceas the hypocrites[do], for they neglecttheir appearancesothat they will be noticedby menwhen they are fasting.TrulyI sayto you, they havetheir rewardin full.
"O Jerusalem,Jerusalem,[the city] that killsthe prophetsand stonesthosesentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,justas a hen[gathers] her broodunderher wings,and you wouldnot [have it]!
"Be gladin that dayand leap[for joy], for behold,your rewardis greatin heaven.For in the samewaytheir fathersused to treatthe prophets.
"But loveyour enemies,and do good,and lend,expectingnothingin return;and your rewardwill be great,and you will be sonsof the Most High;for He Himselfis kindto ungratefuland evil[men].
But aboutmidnightPauland Silaswere prayingand singing hymns of praiseto God,and the prisonerswere listeningto them;
Sothey went on their wayfrom the presenceof the Council,rejoicingthat they had been considered worthyto suffershamefor [His] name.
And not onlythis, but we alsoexultin our tribulations,knowingthat tribulationbrings aboutperseverance;
Nowhe who plantsand he who watersare one;but eachwill receivehis ownrewardaccordingto his ownlabor.
For momentary,lightafflictionis producingfor us an eternalweightof gloryfarbeyondall comparison,
For to you it has been grantedfor Christ'ssake,not onlyto believein Him, but alsoto sufferfor His sake,
But evenifI am being poured out as a drink offeringupon the sacrificeand serviceof your faith,I rejoiceand share my joywith you all.
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.
knowingthat from the Lordyou will receivethe rewardof the inheritance.It is the LordChristwhom you serve.
who bothkilledthe LordJesusand the prophets,and droveus out. They are not pleasingto God,but hostileto allmen,
For you showed sympathyto the prisonersand acceptedjoyfullythe seizureof your property,knowingthat you havefor yourselvesa betterpossessionand a lastingone.
consideringthe reproachof Christgreaterrichesthan the treasuresof Egypt;for he was lookingto the reward.
whoby faithconqueredkingdoms,performed[acts of] righteousness,obtainedpromises,shutthe mouthsof lions,
And withoutfaithit is impossibleto please[Him], for he who comesto Godmustbelievethat He is and [that] He is a rewarderof thosewho seekHim.
Considerit alljoy,my brethren,whenyou encountervarioustrials,
As an example,brethren,of sufferingand patience,takethe prophetswhospokein the nameof the Lord.
but to the degreethat you sharethe sufferingsof Christ,keep on rejoicing,sothat alsoat the revelationof His gloryyou may rejoicewith exultation.
"May the LORDrewardyour work,and your wagesbe fullfrom the LORD,the Godof Israel,underwhosewingsyou have cometo seekrefuge."
