For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have ¹  no further consciousness of sin?

Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. ¹  But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness ²  for those trained by it.

Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, ¹  and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment. ² 

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.

Elijah was a human being ¹  like us, and he prayed earnestly ²  that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!

This brings you great joy, ¹  although you may have to suffer ²  for a short time in various trials.

Like obedient children, do not comply with ¹  the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, ² 

Finally, all of you be harmonious, ¹  sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.

Above all, understand this: ¹  In the last days blatant scoffers ²  will come, being propelled by their own evil urges ³ 

that ¹  if our conscience condemns ²  us, that ³  God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.

Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,

But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend. ¹ 

These people are grumblers and ¹  fault-finders who go ²  wherever their desires lead them, ³  and they give bombastic speeches, ⁴  enchanting folks ⁵  for their own gain. ⁶ 

(This requires ¹  a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains ²  the woman sits on. They are also seven kings:

But God said to Abraham, “Do not be upset ¹  about the boy or your slave wife. Do ²  all that Sarah is telling ³  you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted. ⁴ 

She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Now this time my husband will show me affection, ¹  because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi. ² 

Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all his attendants, ¹  so he cried out, “Make everyone go out from my presence!” No one remained ²  with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, ¹  for compelled by my strong hand ²  he will release them, and by my strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” ³ 

When it was reported ¹  to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, ²  the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, ³  “What in the world have we done? ⁴  For we have released the people of Israel ⁵  from serving us!”

You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them and so that you do not follow ¹  after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness. ²