SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES

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 WITH PERSEVERANCE THE RACE

MARKED OUT FOR US.

LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS,

THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH,

WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS,

SCORNING ITS SHAME,

AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.

CONSIDER HIM WHO ENDURED SUCH OPPOSITION FROM SINFUL MEN,

SO THAT YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.

IN YOUR STRUGGLE AGAINST SIN, YOU HAVE NOT YET RESISTED

TO THE POINT OF SHEDDING YOUR BLOOD.

(Hebrews 12:1-4)