The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the ^(A)certainty of things ^[a](B)hoped for, a ^[b]proof of ^(C)things not seen. ² For by it the ^(D)people of old ^[c](E)gained approval.

³ By faith we understand that the ^[d](F)world has been created ^(G)by the word of God so that what is seen ^(H)has not been made out of things that are visible. ⁴ By faith ^(I)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was ^(J)attested to be righteous, God testifying ^[e]about his ^(K)gifts, and through ^[f]faith, though ^(L)he is dead, he still speaks. ⁵ By faith ^(M)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ^(N)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who ^(O)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. ⁷ By faith ^(P)Noah, being ^(Q)warned by God about ^(R)things not yet seen, ^[g](S)in reverence ^(T)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(U)the righteousness which is according to faith.

⁸ By faith ^(V)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed ^[h]by going out to a place which he was to ^(W)receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as a stranger in ^(X)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(Y)living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(Z)fellow heirs of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he was looking for ^(AA)the city which has ^(AB)foundations, ^(AC)whose architect and builder is God.

⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often ^[a]falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those ^(A)for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;

The Unrepenting Cities

²⁰ Then He began to reprimand the cities in which most of His ^[a](A)miracles were done, because they did not repent. ²¹ “^(B)Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, ^(C)Bethsaida! For if the ^[b]miracles that occurred in you had occurred in ^(D)Tyre and ^(E)Sidon, they would have repented long ago in ^[c](F)sackcloth and ashes. ²² Nevertheless I say to you, ^(G)it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on ^(H)the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, ^(I)Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be ^(J)brought down to ^(K)Hades! For if the ^[d]miracles that occurred in you had occurred in ^(L)Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ Nevertheless I say to you that ^(M)it will be more tolerable for the land of ^(N)Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”

^20 (A)As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. ²¹ And being reminded, Peter *said to Him, “^(B)Rabbi, look, the fig tree that You cursed has withered.” ²² And Jesus answered and *said to them, “^(C)Have faith in God. ^23 (D)Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. ²⁴ Therefore, I say to you, ^(E)all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you. ²⁵ And whenever you ^(F)stand praying, ^(G)forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you for your ^[a]offenses. ²⁶ [^[b](H)But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your ^[c]offenses.”]

A Living Hope and a Sure Salvation

1 ^(A)Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as ^(B)strangers, ^(C)scattered throughout ^(D)Pontus, ^(E)Galatia, ^(F)Cappadocia, ^(G)Asia, and ^(H)Bithynia, ^(I)who are chosen ² according to the ^(J)foreknowledge of God the Father, ^(K)by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, ^[a]to ^(L)obey Jesus Christ and be ^(M)sprinkled with His blood: ^(N)May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

^3 (O)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^(P)according to His great mercy ^(Q)has caused us to be born again to ^(R)a living hope through the ^(S)resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an ^(T)inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and ^(U)will not fade away, ^(V)reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are ^(W)protected by the power of God ^(X)through faith for ^(Y)a salvation ready ^(Z)to be revealed in the last time. ^6 (AA)In this you greatly rejoice, even though now ^(AB)for a little while, ^(AC)if necessary, you have been distressed by ^(AD)various ^[b]trials, ⁷ so that the ^[c](AE)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes ^(AF)though tested by fire, ^(AG)may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at ^(AH)the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸ and ^(AI)though you have not seen Him, you ^(AJ)love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and ^[d]full of glory, ⁹ obtaining as ^(AK)the outcome of your faith, the salvation of ^[e]your souls.

⁷ And ^(A)the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[a]comprehension, will ^(B)guard your hearts and ^(C)minds in ^(D)Christ Jesus.

^4 (A)Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. ^(B)The Lord is ^[a]near. ^6 (C)Do not ^[b]be anxious about anything, but in everything by ^(D)prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And ^(E)the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[c]comprehension, will ^(F)guard your hearts and ^(G)minds in ^(H)Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(I)whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[d]lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen ^(J)in me, practice these things, and ^(K)the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last ^(L)you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[e]from need, for I have learned to be ^[f](M)content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going ^(N)hungry, both of having abundance and ^(O)suffering need.