32But call to mind the former days, in which, after being enlightened, you endured a great struggle of afflictions. 33And certainly, in one way, by insults and tribulations, you were made a spectacle, but in another way, you became the companions of those who were the object of such behavior. 34For you even had compassion on those who were imprisoned, and you accepted with gladness being deprived of your goods, knowing that you have a better and more lasting substance. 35And so, do not lose your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For it is necessary for you to be patient, so that, by doing the will of God, you may receive the promise. 37“For, in a little while, and somewhat longer, he who is to come will return, and he will not delay. 38For my just man lives by faith. But if he were to draw himself back, he would not please my soul.” 39So then, we are not sons who are drawn away to perdition, but we are sons of faith toward the securing of the soul.
3Hope in the Lord and do good, and dwell in the land, and so you shall be pastured with its riches. 4Delight in the Lord, and he will grant to you the petitions of your heart. 5Reveal your way to the Lord, and hope in him, and he will accomplish it. 6And he will bring forth your justice like the light, and your judgment like the midday. 7Be subject to the Lord and pray to him. Do not choose to compete with him who prospers in his way, with the man who does injustice. 8Cease from wrath and leave behind rage. Do not choose to imitate the malicious. 9For those who are malicious will be exterminated. But those who remain with the Lord, these will inherit the land. 10Yet still a little while, and the sinner will not be. And you will search his place and find nothing. 11But the meek shall inherit the earth, and they will delight in the multitude of peace. 12The sinner will observe the just, and he will gnash his teeth over him. 13But the Lord will laugh at him: for he knows in advance that his day will come. 14The sinners have drawn the sword, they have bent their bow, so as to cast down the poor and the needy, so as to massacre the upright of heart. 15Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow be broken. 16A little is better to the just than the many riches of sinners. 17For the arms of sinners will be crushed, but the Lord confirms the just. 18The Lord knows the days of the immaculate, and their inheritance will be in eternity. 19They will not be confounded in an evil time; and in days of famine, they will be satisfied: 20for sinners will perish. Truly, the adversaries of the Lord, soon after they have been honored and exalted, will fade away, in the same way that smoke fades away. 21The sinner will lend and not release, but the just one shows compassion and donates. 22For those who bless him will inherit the earth, but those who curse him will perish. 23The steps of a man will be directed by the Lord, and he will choose his way. 24When he falls, he will not be harmed, because the Lord places his hand under him. 25I have been young, and now I am old; and I have not seen the just forsaken, nor his offspring seeking bread. 26He shows compassion and lends, all day long, and his offspring will be in blessing. 27Turn away from evil and do good, and dwell forever and ever. 28For the Lord loves judgment, and he will not abandon his saints. They will be kept safe in eternity. The unjust will be punished, and the offspring of the impious will perish. 29But the just will inherit the earth, and they will dwell upon it forever and ever. 30The mouth of the just one will express wisdom, and his tongue will speak judgment. 31The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted. 32The sinner considers the just one and seeks to put him to death. 33But the Lord will not abandon him into his hands, nor condemn him, when he will be judged. 34Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way. And he will exalt you, so as to inherit the land that you may seize. When the sinners will have passed away, then you shall see. 35I have seen the impious over-exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon. 36And I passed by, and behold, he was not. And I sought him, and his place was not found. 37Keep to innocence, and gaze upon fairness: because there are allotments for the peaceful man. 38But the unjust will be destroyed together: the allotments of the impious will pass away. 39But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector in time of tribulation. 40And the Lord will help them and free them. And he will rescue them from sinners and save them, because they have hoped in him.
26And he said: “The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land. 27And he sleeps and he arises, night and day. And the seed germinates and grows, though he does not know it. 28For the earth bears fruit readily: first the plant, then the ear, next the full grain in the ear. 29And when the fruit has been produced, immediately he sends out the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.” 30And he said: “To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or to what parable should we compare it? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth. 32And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it produces great branches, so much so that the birds of the air are able to live under its shadow.” 33And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear. 34But he did not speak to them without a parable. Yet separately, he explained all things to his disciples.