¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ^(A)“So shall your descendants be.”

²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but ^(A)hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

^5 (A)Now hope does not disappoint, ^(B)because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

⁵ Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and ^(A)count the ^(B)stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, ^(C)“So shall your ^(D)descendants be.”

⁶ And he ^(E)believed in the Lord, and He ^(F)accounted it to him for righteousness.

²⁵ Therefore take heart, men, ^(A)for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

^35 (A)While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

³⁶ As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only ^(B)believe.”

¹⁷ (as it is written, ^(A)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, ^(B)who gives life to the dead and calls those ^(C)things which do not exist as though they did;

¹¹ Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the ^(A)whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ^(B)‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’

¹¹ But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, ^(A)that they may be your husbands? ¹² Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, ¹³ would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that ^(B)the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”