¹² Hiram also said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, ^(A)who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, ^(B)who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.

Born Again to a Living Hope

^3 (A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! ^(B)According to his great mercy, ^(C)he has caused us to be born again to a living hope ^(D)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁶ and swore by ^(A)him who lives forever and ever, ^(B)who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,

¹⁶ For by^[a] him all things were created, ^(A)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether ^(B)thrones or ^(C)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created ^(D)through him and for him. ¹⁷ And ^(E)he is before all things, and in him all things ^(F)hold together.

¹⁵ “Men, ^(A)why are you doing these things? We also are men, ^(B)of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that ^(C)you should turn from these ^(D)vain things to ^(E)a living God, ^(F)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices ^(A)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, ^(B)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,