Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also ylay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us zrun with aendurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the bfounder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him cendured the cross, despising the shame, and is dseated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or efainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the fexhortation that addresses you as sons?
g“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For hthe Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Rescue the Weak and Needy
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 God has btaken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and cshow partiality to the dwicked? Selah
3 Give ejustice to the weak and the fatherless;
fmaintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 gThey have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they hwalk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 iI said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”1
8 jArise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!
Not Peace, but Division
49 p“I came to cast qfire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a rbaptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, sfather against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
