³ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ^(A)‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

⁸ “The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ^(A)‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, ^[a]lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.’

^14 (A)These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will ^(B)overcome them, ^(C)for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; ^(D)and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

^8 (A)But the cowardly, ^[a]unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in ^(B)the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Leaving All to Follow Christ^(A)

²⁵ Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, ^26 (B)“If anyone comes to Me ^(C)and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, ^(D)yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ And ^(E)whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For ^(F)which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you ^(G)does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

^16 (A)So the last will be first, and the first last. ^(B)For^[a] many are called, but few chosen.”

²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when ^(A)tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately ^(B)he stumbles.