13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, ^aHe swore by Himself,  ‡

14 saying, ^a“Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”  ‡

17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to ^athe heirs of promise ^bthe immutability of His counsel,² confirmed it by an oath,  ‡

18 that by two¹ immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to ^alie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope ^bset before us.  ‡