Genesis 15:1-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
God’s Covenant with Abram
15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”(A) 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”[a](B) 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.”(C) 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.”(D) 5 He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”(E) 6 And he believed the Lord, and the Lord[b] reckoned it to him as righteousness.
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Genesis 15:1-6
New International Version
The Lord’s Covenant With Abram
15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram(A) in a vision:(B)
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,(F) what can you give me since I remain childless(G) and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?(H)” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant(I) in my household(J) will be my heir.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.(K)” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars(L)—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.”(M)
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.(N)
Footnotes
- Genesis 15:1 Or sovereign
- Genesis 15:1 Or shield; / your reward will be very great
- Genesis 15:2 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Genesis 15:5 Or seed
Psalm 33:12-22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.(A)
13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
he sees all humankind.(B)
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches
all the inhabitants of the earth—
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.(C)
16 A king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.(D)
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its great might it cannot save.(E)
18 Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,(F)
19 to deliver their soul from death
and to keep them alive in famine.(G)
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him
because we trust in his holy name.(H)
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
Psalm 33:12-22
New International Version
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,(A)
the people he chose(B) for his inheritance.(C)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down(D)
and sees all mankind;(E)
14 from his dwelling place(F) he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms(G) the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.(H)
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;(I)
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse(J) is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes(K) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,(L)
19 to deliver them from death(M)
and keep them alive in famine.(N)
Hebrews 11:1-3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Meaning of Faith
11 Now faith is the assurance[a] of things hoped for, the conviction[b] of things not seen.(A) 2 Indeed, by faith[c] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.[d](B)
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Hebrews 11:1-3
New International Version
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(A) and assurance about what we do not see.(B) 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.(C)
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(D) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrews 11:8-16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Faith of Abraham
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going.(A) 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(B) 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.(C) 11 By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered[a] him faithful who had promised.(D) 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”(E)
13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,(F) 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.(G)
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- 11.11 Other ancient authorities read By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered
Hebrews 11:8-16
New International Version
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(A) obeyed and went,(B) even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land(C) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,(D) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(E) 10 For he was looking forward to the city(F) with foundations,(G) whose architect and builder is God.(H) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(I) was enabled to bear children(J) because she[a] considered him faithful(K) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(L) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(M)
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(N) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(O) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(P) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.(Q) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(R) Therefore God is not ashamed(S) to be called their God,(T) for he has prepared a city(U) for them.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
Luke 12:32-40
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.(A) 33 Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(B) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(C)
Watchful Slaves
35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;(D) 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.(E) 38 If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he[a] would not have let his house be broken into.(F) 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”(G)
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- 12.39 Other ancient authorities add would have watched and
Luke 12:32-40
New International Version
32 “Do not be afraid,(A) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.(B) 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.(C) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven(D) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(E) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(F)
Watchfulness(G)(H)
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.(I) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.(J) 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief(K) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,(L) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
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