Blessed are you when people hate you, when they have nothing to do with you, when they say bad things about you, and when they treat your name as evil because of the Son of Man.
Don’t be afraid of what you’re going to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you’ll be mistreated for ten days. Be faithful, even if you have to die, and I’ll give you life as your victory crown.
You’ve kept my command to remain strong in the faith no matter what happens, so I’m going to keep you from the time of suffering that the rest of the world is going to experience. That suffering will test those who live on the earth.
Blessed is the person who keeps going when times are difficult. After they’ve made it through these times, they’ll receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to give to those who love him.
“Brothers will hand over their brothers to be killed, and fathers will hand over their children. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.