³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, ^(A)stopped the mouths of lions,

My Rock and My Fortress

Of David.

⁵ Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. ^6 (A)Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

⁴ By faith ^(A)Abel offered to God ^(B)a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And ^(C)through his faith, though he died, he ^(D)still speaks. ⁵ By faith ^(E)Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God ^(F)must believe that he exists and ^(G)that he rewards those who seek him. ⁷ By faith ^(H)Noah, being warned by God concerning ^(I)events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of ^(J)the righteousness that comes by faith.

⁸ By faith ^(K)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place ^(L)that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

³⁶ For ^(A)you have need of endurance, so that ^(B)when you have done the will of God you may ^(C)receive what is promised.

¹² so that you may not be sluggish, but ^(A)imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God's Promise

¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, ^(B)he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, ^(C)“Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” ¹⁵ And thus Abraham,^{[a] (D)}having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

¹⁶ Now ^(A)the promises were made ^(B)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, ^(C)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

²⁰ As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of ^(A)the living God, ^(B)has your God, whom you serve continually, ^(C)been able to deliver you from the lions?” ²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, ^(D)“O king, live forever! ²² My God ^(E)sent his angel ^(F)and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless ^(G)before him; ^(H)and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” ²³ Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and ^(I)no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

⁴ David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and ^(A)he reigned forty years. ^5 (B)At Hebron he reigned over Judah ^(C)seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.^[a]

^6 (D)And the king and his men went to Jerusalem ^(E)against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” ⁷ Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, ^(F)that is, the city of David. ⁸ And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David's soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” ⁹ And David lived in the stronghold and called it ^(G)the city of David. And David built the city all around from the ^(H)Millo inward. ¹⁰ And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

^11 (I)And ^(J)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. ¹² And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

¹³ And David took more ^(K)concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. ^14 (L)And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down ^(M)to the stronghold. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in ^(N)the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹ And David ^(O)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” ²⁰ And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” ^(P)Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.^{[b] 21} And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

²² And the Philistines came up yet again ^(Q)and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ^23 (R)And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. ²⁴ And ^(S)when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, ^(T)for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” ²⁵ And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba ^(U)to Gezer.