¹⁶ For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes ^(A)an oath is final for confirmation. ¹⁷ So when God desired to show more convincingly to ^(B)the heirs of the promise ^(C)the unchangeable character of his purpose, ^(D)he guaranteed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things, in which ^(E)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope ^(F)set before us.