Hebrews 13

JMNT^{(i) 1} Let brotherly affection (= fondness for the Family; = friendly devotion to fellow believers) continuously remain! ² Be continuously unforgetful (or: = un-neglecting) of fondness and affection to strangers and foreigners (or: Don't forget hospitality and friendliness to unexpected guests)! For you see, through this, some folks were unaware (oblivious; unconscious) of at some point receiving agents (or: messengers) as guests. ³ Be habitually reminding yourselves of those in bondage (or: bound ones; prisoners), as having been and now remaining bound together with [them]. [Take thought] of those maltreated (or: those continually being held by the bad or in the worthless), as being yourselves also within a body (or: as it were even being the same – in union with [that] body). ⁴ Marriage [is] precious (of great value and honor) in the midst of all folks (or: among all peoples), and the conjugal bed [is] unstained and undefiled; yet God is continuously judging (or: repeatedly separating and making a decision about) fornicators (or: male prostitutes; or: men who have sexual intercourse with a prostitute) and adulterers. ⁵ [Have] behavior (the turn, mode or manner of living) [that is] without love of silver (= money), constantly contenting ourselves (sufficing; warding-off for ourselves) in and by the things being continuously present (being at the side), for He Himself has said, "I can (or: could; would) by no means let you go (or: let up on you; send you back; release my grip on you), neither by any means may (or: could; would) I leave you down within (= forsake or fail you)," [Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:5] ⁶ so that we, being constantly cheerfully courageous, [are able] to be habitually saying, "The Lord [= Yahweh] [is] a Helper (One who runs to the aid of those who cry for help) for, to and with me, and I shall not continue fearing (or: proceed to be afraid). What shall a human proceed to do to me (make for me; accomplish in me; perform for me)?" [Ps. 118:6] ⁷ You folks be habitually mindful of those belonging to, and from, you folks – of those habitually leading the way: whoever has spoken or now speaks God's word (or: the message which is God and has God's character) to and among you – continually gazing upward upon (or: reviewing and making close observation of) the walking-out of [their] behavior (or: conduct), whose faith, trust and loyalty be constantly imitating. ⁸ Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and on into the ages, (or: Jesus [is and continues being] Christ [= the Messiah] – the Man Himself {or: the Very One}: yesterday as well as today, and even into the midst of the ages,) ⁹ [so] do not be carried aside (or: swept away) by various and strange (or: with many-colored [as in tapestries], intricate and foreign) teachings. You see, [it is] beautiful (fine; ideal; admirably proportionate) for the heart (= core of our being) to be continuously made firm with a fixed footing by Grace, whose source is joy and which comes with favor – not by (or: in; with) foods (= rules and regulations pertaining to eating or what is edible), in which those [thus] walking about (= occupying themselves) were not increased (or: = which have not helped or benefited those who follow this way of life). ¹⁰ We continue having an altar from out of which those who continue habitually serving in the Tabernacle (= those involved with the whole ceremonial economy) do not have authority (or: right; privilege) to eat. ¹¹ For you see, the bodies of those animals, whose blood is still repeatedly being brought [some MSS add: concerning sin] into the set-apart (or: holy) places by means of the chief priest, are habitually being burned down outside of the Camp. ¹² Wherefore Jesus also suffered (and/or: had experiences of His bodily senses and emotions) outside of the gate [p46 and others: the Camp], so that He may set-apart (or: would make holy and sacred) the People through His own blood. [comment: this was a fulfillment of the Day of Atonement] ¹³ Now then, we can keep on coming out (or: should be progressively going out) toward Him – outside of the Camp – habitually bearing His reproach (= the censure and disgrace which He bore; or: the insult which pertains to Him). [comment: this was a call to participate in His sacrifice, and also to leave Judaism (or: religion), and thus to bear the same reproach and insults that He bore; it is also a call to bear away from them the mistakes and failures of others – John 20:23] ¹⁴ For you see, we are not continuously holding (having; possessing) a remaining (abiding; permanent) city here, but rather we are progressively seeking for (or: continuously searching upon) the impending one (the one that is presently about to be [here]). ¹⁵ Through Him, then, we may and should repeatedly (or: continuously) offer up a sacrifice of praise in God (by God; to God; for God; with God) through all things (or: through the midst of all [situations]) – that is, a fruit of lips continuously saying the same things (or: speaking alike) in His Name (by His Name; confessing to His Name; for the Name which is Him; or: = a product of speech which acknowledges His character, authority and identity). [comment: here we see a life "in spirit and truth" referred to by Jesus in John 4:23-24] ¹⁶ Now be not forgetful of well-doing (performing well; producing or constructing goodness; doing good deeds of ease; creating well-being) and of partnership (common-being/existence; community; participation; having things in common; fellowship; sharing and contributing), for by (or: in) such sacrifices God is continuously well pleased. ¹⁷ Be constantly persuading yourselves by (or: Be progressively having confidence in and continue being convinced by) those folks normally taking the lead among you folks, and continue humbly yielding under (or: giving way to or making way for) [situations or people] while coming under [His] likeness, for you see, these same folks are habitually awake and vigilant (abstaining from sleep to watch) over (or: on behalf of) your souls (your inner lives; or: the people among you folks), as those who will constantly be rendering a word (an account or an accounting), so that they can (or: would) be habitually doing (or: performing; producing) this with gracious joy – and not be constantly groaning (= complaining), for that [would be] detrimental and unprofitable (literally: not paying taxes or expenses) for you! ¹⁸ Be continuously thinking, speaking and acting toward having things go well (or: projecting goodness and ease; praying) concerning us, for we have been persuaded that we have a beautiful consciousness (a fine and ideal share in knowledge; or: a sound and noble conscience), setting our will to behave ourselves beautifully (in a good way; ideally; soundly; honorably) in all things and among all people. ¹⁹ Yet I am more exceedingly calling you alongside, urging and encouraging you to do (or: perform) this, to the end that I can (or: would) more quickly be restored (or: returned) to you. ²⁰ Now may the God who is Peace (or: who is the origin of and has the character and qualities of harmony [= shalom]), the One at one point leading our Lord (Master; Owner) – Jesus, the Shepherd of the sheep, the Great One – back up again out from the midst of dead folks, ²¹ at once render you folks thoroughly equipped (fitted; adapted) in the midst of all good and in every virtue, immersed in, and in union with, the blood of a thorough arrangement (or: a covenant; a deposit which moves throughout in every direction; a placing through the midst; or: a will and testament) pertaining to and having the qualities of the Age (or: an eonian – through the ages – settlement), in order to at once do (produce; perform) His will (the effect of His intent and purpose; the result of His design and pleasure) – progressively creating (doing; forming; producing) within you folks and in union with you people [other MSS: in us] the well-pleasing and satisfying [result] in His presence and sight, through Jesus Christ, in Whom (and: for Whom, by Whom, and to Whom) [is] the glory (the reputation and the manifestation which calls forth praise) on into the ages of the ages. It is so (Count on it; Amen)! ²² Yet I am calling you alongside to aid and encourage (or: Now I am performing as a paraclete for) you, brothers (= fellow believers; = my family). Progressively uphold the word of the encouraging calling-alongside for aid and exhortation (or: the message which pertains to and has its origin in the Paraclete), for I also send it to you through a brief letter. ²³ Know (or: Take note and be personally aware) [that] our brother Timothy, has been released, with whom, if he may more quickly be going (or: coming), I will see you. ²⁴ Greet and embrace all the folks taking the lead among you, and all the set-apart folks (the holy ones; the saints). Those from Italy (or: The Italians [here]) are constantly embracing and greeting you folks (or: Those [here] are now sending you greetings from Italy). ²⁵ Grace and joyous favor [are] with all of you! [written circa A.D. 67 – Based on the critical analysis of John A.T. Robinson]