³⁵ Women received back their dead, raised to life again.^(A) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging,^(B) and even chains and imprisonment.^{(C) 37} They were put to death by stoning;^[a](D) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.^(E) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,^(F) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves^(G) and in holes in the ground.

³⁹ These were all commended^(H) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,^{(I) 40} since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us^(J) would they be made perfect.^(K)

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(A) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(B)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(C) and live!^{(D) 10} They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{(E) 11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(F) for those who have been trained by it.

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.