22 Now that you have made your souls holy by obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, you must love one another steadily from your hearts,
23 for you have been reborn, not from mortal seed but from immortal by the living and enduring word of God.
24 For "All flesh is like grass and all its glory is like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever." And this is the word of good news that has been brought to you.
9 The Lord is not slow about what he has promised, as some think of slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, wishing not to have any perish but to have all come to a change of heart.
3 Not only so, but we also exult in trials, knowing that trial develops endurance,
4 and endurance develops a tested character, and a tested character develops hope,
1 "THEN the kingdom of heaven will be like ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise;
3 for the foolish ones took their lamps, but took with them no oil;
4 while the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps.
5 As the bridegroom was late in coining, all grew drowsy and slept.
6 At midnight a cry was raised, 'Here is the bridegroom. Come out to meet him!'
7 Then all those maidens arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 But the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9 But the wise answered, 'There may not be enough for us and you. Go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
10 While they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut.
11 Afterwards came the rest of the maidens, saying, 'Master, Master, open for us.'
12 But he answered, 'I tell you truly I do not know you.'
13 Watch, therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient over it until he receives the early and the late rains.
8 You too must be patient. Keep your hearts steadfast, for the coming of the Lord is near.
11 We call them blessed because they endured. You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord's dealings with him, that the Lord is very tender and compassionate.
11 May you be strengthened with all strength according to his glorious power, so as to have all patience and endurance.