Hebrews 12:1-13:25

NHEB^{(i) 1} Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and completer of the faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider him who has endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you may not become tired and give up. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your struggle against sin; ⁵ and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, "My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose heart when you are corrected by him. ⁶ For whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and punishes every son he accepts." ⁷ If you are enduring discipline, God is dealing with you as children. For what child is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children. ⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we paid them respect. Should we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed, for a few days, disciplined us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹ All discipline seems for the moment painful, not joyful; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. ¹² Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. ¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord, ¹⁵ looking carefully lest there be anyone who falls short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶ that there be no sexually immoral or profane person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for one meal. ¹⁷ For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears. ¹⁸ For you have not come to something that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and darkness, gloom, and storm, ¹⁹ the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, ²⁰ for they could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned;" ²¹ and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling." ²² But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, ²³ to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. ²⁵ See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens." ²⁷ This phrase, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. ²⁸ So since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, through which we may offer service pleasing to God, with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our God is a consuming fire. ^{13 1} Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. ³ Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body. ⁴ Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. ⁵ Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." ⁶ So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can humans do to me?" ⁷ Remember your leaders, who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside of the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate. ¹³ Let us therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing the abuse he bore. ¹⁴ For we do not have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come. ¹⁵ Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you. ¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. ¹⁹ I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner. ²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an everlasting covenant, our Lord Jesus, ²¹ make you complete in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen. ²² But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. ²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. ²⁴ Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. ²⁵ Grace be with you all.