³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms,^(A) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,^{(B) 34} quenched the fury of the flames,^(C) and escaped the edge of the sword;^(D) whose weakness was turned to strength;^(E) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.^{(F) 35} Women received back their dead, raised to life again.^(G) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging,^(H) and even chains and imprisonment.^{(I) 37} They were put to death by stoning;^[a](J) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.^(K) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,^(L) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves^(M) and in holes in the ground.

³⁹ These were all commended^(N) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,^{(O) 40} since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us^(P) would they be made perfect.^(Q)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^(R) with perseverance^(S) the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(T) the pioneer^(U) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(V) scorning its shame,^(W) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^{(X) 3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary^(Y) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.^{(Z) 5} And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(AD) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(AE)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(AF) and live!^{(AG) 10} They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{(AH) 11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(AI) for those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{(AJ) 13} “Make level paths for your feet,”^[c](AK) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^(AL)