persistence

⁹And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail.

⁹And so I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks, receives. And whoever seeks, finds. And whoever knocks, it shall be opened to him.

¹Now he also told them a parable, that we should continually pray and not cease, ²saying: “There was a certain judge in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man. ³But there was a certain widow in that city, and she went to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my adversary.’ ⁴And he refused to do so for a long time. But afterwards, he said within himself: ‘Even though I do not fear God, nor respect man, ⁵yet because this widow is pestering me, I will vindicate her, lest by returning, she may, in the end, wear me out.’ ” ⁶Then the Lord said: “Listen to what the unjust judge said.

¹⁶For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.

⁵And he said to them: “Which of you will have a friend and will go to him in the middle of the night, and will say to him: ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶because a friend of mine has arrived from a journey to me, and I do not have anything to set before him.’ ⁷And from within, he would answer by saying: ‘Do not disturb me. The door is closed now, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give it to you.’ ⁸Yet if he will persevere in knocking, I tell you that, even though he would not get up and give it to him because he is a friend, yet due to his continued insistence, he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ⁹And so I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks, receives. And whoever seeks, finds. And whoever knocks, it shall be opened to him.

¹³And you, brothers, do not grow weak in doing good.

¹Furthermore, since we also have so great a cloud of witnesses over us, let us set aside every burden and sin which may surround us, and advance, through patience, to the struggle offered to us. ²Let us gaze upon Jesus, as the Author and the completion of our faith, who, having joy laid out before him, endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and who now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.

¹⁴I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.

¹James, servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes of the dispersion, greetings. ²My brothers, when you have fallen into various trials, consider everything a joy, ³knowing that the proving of your faith exercises patience, ⁴and patience brings a work to perfection, so that you may be perfect and whole, deficient in nothing. ⁵But if anyone among you is in need of wisdom, let him petition God, who gives abundantly to all without reproach, and it shall be given to him. ⁶But he should ask with faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave on the ocean, which is moved about by the wind and carried away;

¹⁷Pray without ceasing.

⁵⁸And so, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and unmovable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not useless in the Lord.

¹⁰You should fear nothing amid those things which you will suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tested. And you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give to you the crown of life.

¹²Blessed is the man who suffers temptation. For when he has been proven, he shall receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

⁶I am confident of this very thing: that he who has begun this good work in you will perfect it, unto the day of Christ Jesus.

¹⁵And we know that he hears us, no matter what we request; so we know that we can obtain the things that we request of him.

⁶But without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever approaches God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.