Dear Beloved of God,
Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and (for which) you confessed the good confession (of faith) before many witnesses.
Holding fast to faith that (leaning on of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience.
Therefore humble yourself (demote, lower yourself in your own estimation) and under the might hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. Casting all your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares for you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times for that enemy of yours, the devil roams around like a roaring lion (in fierce hunger) seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him, be firm in faith (against his onset, rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined) knowing that the same (identical) suffering are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christian) throughout the world.
Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins (forgives and disregards the offenses of others. Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride), it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on it's own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking. It is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong). It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person. It's hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never fails (never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end.
Understand this, my beloved, Let every man be quick to hear (a ready listener) slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God (wishes and requires). So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted (in your hearts) contains the power to save your soul.
Run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before you. Looking away (from all that will distract) to Yeshua, Who is the Leader and the source of our faith (giving the first incentive for our belief) and is also it's Finisher (bringing it to maturity and perfection). He, for the joy (of obtaining the prize) that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Just think of Him who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself (reckon up and consider it all in comparison to your trials), so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. You have not yet struggled and fought agonizing against sin, nor have you het resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your (own) blood. And have you (completely) forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as a child of God? My child, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him? for the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourge every child whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure (correction) for discipline: God is dealing with you as with children. For what child is there whom his father does not (thus) train and correct and discipline?
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterward it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness, in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God).
So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and dropping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees. And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths with your feet, so that the lame and halting (limbs) may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured. Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will (ever) see the Lord.
Work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ.
(Not in your own strength) for it is God who is all the while effectively at work in you (energizing and creating in you the power an desire) both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
Therefore be imitators of God (copy Him and follow His example), as well-beloved children. And walk in love (esteeming and delighting in one another) as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God (for you, that it became a sweet fragrance).
For He (God) Himself has said, I will not in anyway fail you nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax my hold on you!) Assuredly not! So take comfort and be encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm (I will not fear or dread or be terrified).
The Word of God
Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and (for which) you confessed the good confession (of faith) before many witnesses.
Holding fast to faith that (leaning on of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience.
Therefore humble yourself (demote, lower yourself in your own estimation) and under the might hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. Casting all your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares for you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times for that enemy of yours, the devil roams around like a roaring lion (in fierce hunger) seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him, be firm in faith (against his onset, rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined) knowing that the same (identical) suffering are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christian) throughout the world.
Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins (forgives and disregards the offenses of others. Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride), it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on it's own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking. It is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong). It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person. It's hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never fails (never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end.
Understand this, my beloved, Let every man be quick to hear (a ready listener) slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God (wishes and requires). So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted (in your hearts) contains the power to save your soul.
Run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before you. Looking away (from all that will distract) to Yeshua, Who is the Leader and the source of our faith (giving the first incentive for our belief) and is also it's Finisher (bringing it to maturity and perfection). He, for the joy (of obtaining the prize) that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Just think of Him who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself (reckon up and consider it all in comparison to your trials), so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. You have not yet struggled and fought agonizing against sin, nor have you het resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your (own) blood. And have you (completely) forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as a child of God? My child, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him? for the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourge every child whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure (correction) for discipline: God is dealing with you as with children. For what child is there whom his father does not (thus) train and correct and discipline?
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterward it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness, in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God).
So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and dropping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees. And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths with your feet, so that the lame and halting (limbs) may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured. Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will (ever) see the Lord.
Work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ.
(Not in your own strength) for it is God who is all the while effectively at work in you (energizing and creating in you the power an desire) both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
Therefore be imitators of God (copy Him and follow His example), as well-beloved children. And walk in love (esteeming and delighting in one another) as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God (for you, that it became a sweet fragrance).
For He (God) Himself has said, I will not in anyway fail you nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax my hold on you!) Assuredly not! So take comfort and be encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm (I will not fear or dread or be terrified).
The Word of God
