¹⁶ And ^(A)I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying ^[a]to me, “Write: ^(A)‘Blessed are the dead ^(B)who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, ^(C)“that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow ^(D)them.”

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For ^(A)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(B)my departure is at hand. ^7 (C)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(D)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(E)Judge, will give to me ^(F)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Assurance of the Resurrection

5 For we know that if ^(A)our earthly ^[a]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house ^(B)not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Israel’s Futile Idolatry

⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and ^(A)this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ^(B)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and ^(D)the strength of sin is the law. ^57 (E)But thanks be to God, who gives us ^(F)the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.