because we recall<n id="1" /> in the presence of our God and Father<n id="2" /> your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope<n id="3" /> in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For you recall, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

For you became imitators, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> of God&#8217;s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews,

We<n id="1" /> sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God<n id="2" /> in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith,

so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.<n id="1" />p>

As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.p>

He<n id="1" /> opposes <i>and exalts himself above everyi> so-called <i>godi> or object of worship, and as a result <i>he takes his seati><n id="2" /> in God&#8217;s temple, displaying himself as God.<n id="3" />

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty<n id="1" /> toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them.<n id="2" /> For this is what pleases God.<n id="3" />

However, God&#8217;s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: &#8220;<b><i>The Lord knows those who are hisi>b>,&#8221;<n id="1" /> and &#8220;Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord<n id="2" /> must turn away from evil.&#8221;p>

but we see Jesus, who was made <b><i>lower than the angels for a little whilei>b>,<n id="1" /> now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death,<n id="2" /> so that by God&#8217;s grace he would experience<n id="3" /> death on behalf of everyone.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.

For though you should in fact be teachers by this time,<n id="1" /> you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God&#8217;s utterances.<n id="2" /> You have gone back to needing<n id="3" /> milk, not<n id="4" /> solid food.

For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on<n id="1" /> it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now this <b><i>Melchizedeki>b>, <b><i>king of Salemi>b>, <b><i>priest of the most high Godi>b>, <b><i>met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kingsi>b> and <b><i>blessed himi>b>.<n id="1" />

How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for<n id="1" /> the Son of God, and profanes<n id="2" /> the blood of the covenant that made him holy,<n id="3" /> and insults the Spirit of grace?

By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith<n id="1" /> he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith<n id="2" /> he still speaks, though he is dead.

keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and <i>has taken his seat at the right hand of the thronei> of God.<n id="1" />

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like <i>a bitter rooti> <i>springing upi><n id="1" /> and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.

<p class="bodytext">after they were disobedient long ago<n id="1" /> when God patiently waited<n id="2" /> in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark<n id="3" /> a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Through Silvanus,<n id="1" /> whom I know to be a faithful brother,<n id="2" /> I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify<n id="3" /> that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.<n id="4" />