¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. ^(A)To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^(A)would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: ^(A)Blessed are the dead ^(B)who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, ^(C)“that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us ^(A)rely not on ourselves ^(B)but on God ^(C)who raises the dead.