²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ^25 (A)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and ^(B)so much the more as you see ^(C)the Day approaching.

The Just Live by Faith

²⁶ For ^(D)if we sin willfully ^(E)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there ^(F)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(G)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three ^(H)witnesses. ^29 (I)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, ^(J)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, ^(K)and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, ^(L)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” ^[a]says the Lord. And again, ^(M)“The Lord will judge His people.” ^31 (N)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But ^(O)recall the former days in which, after you were ^[b]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ³³ partly while you were made ^(P)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while ^(Q)you became companions of those who were so treated; ³⁴ for you had compassion on ^[c]me ^(R)in my chains, and ^(S)joyfully accepted the plundering of your ^[d]goods, knowing that ^(T)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves ^[e]in heaven. ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, ^(U)which has great reward. ^36 (V)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, ^(W)you may receive the promise:

³⁹ But we are not of those ^(AA)who draw back to ^[i]perdition, but of those who ^(AB)believe to the saving of the soul.

By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the ^[j]substance of things hoped for, the ^[k]evidence ^(AC)of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

³ By faith we understand that ^(AD)the ^[l]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith at the Dawn of History^(AE)

⁴ By faith ^(AF)Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still ^(AG)speaks.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ^(AH)“and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

⁷ By faith ^(AI)Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, ^(AJ)prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of ^(AK)the righteousness which is according to faith.

Faithful Abraham^(AL)

⁸ By faith ^(AM)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, ^(AN)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(AO)the heirs with him of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he waited for ^(AP)the city which has foundations, ^(AQ)whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ By faith ^(AR)Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and ^(AS)she^[m] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him ^(AT)faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, and him as good as ^(AU)dead, were born as many as the ^(AV)stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Heavenly Hope

¹³ These all died in faith, ^(AW)not having received the ^(AX)promises, but ^(AY)having seen them afar off ^[n]were assured of them, embraced them and ^(AZ)confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things ^(BA)declare plainly that they seek a homeland. ¹⁵ And truly if they had called to mind ^(BB)that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed ^(BC)to be called their God, for He has ^(BD)prepared a city for them.

The Faith of the Patriarchs^(BE)

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, ^(BF)when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ^18 [o]of whom it was said, ^(BG)“In Isaac your seed shall be called,” ¹⁹ concluding that God ^(BH)was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.