⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts^(A) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

⁶ The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants,^(A) so that you may love^(B) him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

¹⁸ Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.^(A)

² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(A) the pioneer^(B) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(C) scorning its shame,^(D) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^{(E) 3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary^(F) and lose heart.

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived,^(A) my dear brothers and sisters.^{(B) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(C) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(D) who does not change^(E) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth^(F) through the word of truth,^(G) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(H) of all he created.

³ But whoever loves God is known by God.^[a](A)