³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,^(A) Barak,^(B) Samson^(C) and Jephthah,^(D) about David^(E) and Samuel^(F) and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms,^(G) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,^{(H) 34} quenched the fury of the flames,^(I) and escaped the edge of the sword;^(J) whose weakness was turned to strength;^(K) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.^{(L) 35} Women received back their dead, raised to life again.^(M) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging,^(N) and even chains and imprisonment.^{(O) 37} They were put to death by stoning;^[a](P) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.^(Q) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,^(R) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves^(S) and in holes in the ground.

³⁹ These were all commended^(T) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,^{(U) 40} since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us^(V) would they be made perfect.^(W)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^(X) with perseverance^(Y) the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(Z) the pioneer^(AA) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(AB) scorning its shame,^(AC) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^{(AD) 3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary^(AE) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.^{(AF) 5} And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(AJ) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(AK)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(AL) and live!^{(AM) 10} They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{(AN) 11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(AO) for those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{(AP) 13} “Make level paths for your feet,”^[c](AQ) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^(AR)