² Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them:

Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land.^{(A) 3} With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders.^{(B) 4} But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.^{(C) 5} Yet the Lord says, “During the forty years that I led^(D) you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.^{(E) 6} You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink.^(F) I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.”^(G)

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness^(A)

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a](B) by the devil.^{(C) 2} After fasting forty days and forty nights,^(D) he was hungry. ³ The tempter^(E) came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God,^(F) tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b]”^(G)

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city^(H) and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,”^(I) he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[d]”^(K)

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!^(L) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[e]”^(M)

¹¹ Then the devil left him,^(N) and angels came and attended him.^(O)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^{(A) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith^(B) produces perseverance.^{(C) 4} Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature^(D) and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,^(E) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.^{(F) 6} But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,^(G) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded^(H) and unstable^(I) in all they do.

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ His divine power^(A) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him^(B) who called us^(C) by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(D) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(E) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(F)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(G) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(H) and to self-control, perseverance;^(I) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(J) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(K) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(L) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(M) 9} But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(N) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(O)

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling^(P) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,^{(Q) 11} and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom^(R) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(S)