In hopeagainsthopehe believed,sothat he might becomea fatherof manynationsaccordingto that which had been spoken,"SOSHALL YOUR DESCENDANTSBE."
Hopedeferredmakesthe heartsick,But desirefulfilledis a treeof life.
Then He saidto me, "Sonof man,thesebonesare the wholehouseof Israel;behold,they say,Our bonesare driedup and our hopehas perished.We are completely cutoff.'
Zachariassaidto the angel,"Howwill I knowthis[for certain]? For I aman old manand my wifeis advancedin years."
"Therefore,keep up your courage,men,for I believeGodthat it will turnout exactlyas I have been told.
(as it is written,"A FATHEROF MANYNATIONSHAVE I MADEYOU") in the presenceof Him whomhe believed,[even] God,who gives lifeto the deadand callsinto being that which does not exist.
Withoutbecoming weakin faithhe contemplatedhis ownbody,now as good as deadsince he was abouta hundred years old,and the deadnessof Sarah'swomb;
and hopedoes not disappoint,becausethe loveof Godhas been pouredout withinour heartsthroughthe HolySpiritwho was givento us.
For in hopewe have been saved,but hopethat is seenis not hope;for whohopesfor whathe [already] sees?
Thishope we haveas an anchorof the soul,a [hope] bothsureand steadfastand one which enterswithinthe veil,
