And so by persevering, Abraham ¹  inherited the promise.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The ¹  rest were hardened,

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, ¹  gained what was promised, ²  shut the mouths of lions,

In Christ ¹  we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, ²  since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will

But ¹  now Jesus ²  has obtained a superior ministry, since ³  the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted ⁴  on better promises. ⁵ 

For by it the people of old ¹  received God’s commendation. ² 

Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience,

When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought ¹  they could carry out ²  their purpose, so they weighed anchor ³  and sailed close along the coast ⁴  of Crete.

and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured ¹  eternal redemption.

You ¹  once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, ²  but now you have received mercy.

Then you will call ¹  your ²  brother, “My People” (Ammi)! You will call your sister, “Pity” (Ruhamah)!

for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.” ¹ 

even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant ¹  man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,

Watch out for ¹  yourselves and for all the flock of which ²  the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, ³  to shepherd the church of God ⁴  that he obtained ⁵  with the blood of his own Son. ⁶ 

through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice ¹  in the hope of God’s glory.

Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. ¹ 

From Simeon ¹  Peter, ²  a slave ³  and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God ⁴  and Savior, ⁵  Jesus Christ, have been granted ⁶  a faith just as precious ⁷  as ours.

Thus he became ¹  so far better than the angels as ²  he has inherited a name superior to theirs.

And these all were commended ¹  for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. ² 

During all this time I was not in Jerusalem, ¹  for in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon, I had gone back to the king. After some time ²  I had requested leave of the king,