The Letter to the Hebrews

1 Fragmentarily and variously did God of old speak to the fathers in the prophets, 2 but has in these latter days spoken to us in a Son whom he has appointed heir to everything, through whom also he made the universe; who, 3 being beam of his glory and imprint of his essence, and actuating all things by his word of power, took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high when he had made purgation of sins, 4 becoming as much better than the angels as he has inherited a more transcendent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did he ever say “You are my son, I have this day brought you to birth,” and again “I will be father to him and he shall be son to me”? 6 and when he shall again bring in the firstborn into the world of men he says “and let all God’s angels do him reverence.” 7* And as to the angels he says “he who makes his angels winds, and his servitors flame”; 8* but as to the Son “God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of integrity is the scepter of his reign. 9 You loved rectitude and hated wickedness; for this reason God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your fellows,” 10 and “You at the beginning, Lord, laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are works of your hands: 11 they will perish, but you abide; and all of them will grow old as a cloak does, 12 and like a mantle you will roll them up—like a cloak, too, will they be changed; but you are the same and your years will not come short.” 13 But as to which of the angels has he ever said “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies the footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not, all of them, servient spirits that are sent on errands in behalf of those who are to inherit salvation?

2 For this reason we must pay special attention to what we have heard, for fear we should drop away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved sure, and every violation or nonobservance received due requital, 3 how shall we escape after neglecting such a great salvation? which, having begun to be spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who had heard it, 4 God adding his attestation by tokens and wonders and varied miracles and grants of the Holy Spirit according to his will.

5 For not to angels did he subject the future earth of which we are speaking; 6 because someone has somewhere testified in these words: “What is a man, that thou rememberest him? or a son of man, that thou dost look after him? 7 Thou didst make him a little inferior to the angels, didst garland him with glory and honor, 8 didst subject everything underneath his feet,” For in subjecting everything to him he has left nothing unsubjected to him, but now we do not yet see everything subjected to him; 9 but him who was made a little inferior to the angels, Jesus, we do see garlanded with glory and honor so that by God’s grace he may taste death for everyone. 10 For it befitted him for whom everything exists and through whom everything exists that in bringing many sons to glory he should perfect through suffering their leader in salvation. 11 For the sanctifier and the sanctified all come of one; for which reason he is not ashamed of calling them brothers, 12 saying “I will announce thy name to my brothers, in the midst of the congregation I will hymn thy praise,” 13 and again “I will rest my confidence in him,” and again “Lo, I and the children God has given me.” 14 So, since the children have been sharing flesh and blood, he himself similarly participated in the same, that through death he might quell him who wields the might of death—that is, the Devil— 15 and deliver those who for the fear of death were doomed to slavery all their lives. 16 For he does not take up angels, methinks, but takes up the descendants of Abraham. 17 Whence he had to be made in all respects like his brothers, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest for our relations to God, to make propitiation for the people’s sins. 18 For by the fact that he himself has suffered from temptation he is able to help the tempted.

3 Hence, holy brothers, participants in the celestial call, look at Jesus the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 faithful to the one who appointed him in the same way as Moses was faithful in his house. 3 For he has been awarded more glory than Moses insofar as he who constructed the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is constructed by somebody; but he who constructed everything is God, 5 and Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of what was to be spoken, 6* but Christ as a son over his house; whose house we are if we retain our confidence and prideful hope. 7 Wherefore, as the Holy Spirit says “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as at the embittering, as on the day of the testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers made a test for approval and saw my deeds for forty years, 10 wherefore I was disgusted with that generation and said ‘They are wrong-headed all the time and do not know my ways,’ 11 as I swore in my anger ‘They shall not come into my rest,’” 12 look to it, brothers, that there shall not be in any one of you a vicious heart of unbelief in breaking away from the living God, 13 but exhort each other each day as long as “today” is so called, in order that there may not any one of you be hardened by the deceits of sin; 14* for we have become the Christ’s “fellows” if we hold firm to the end the resolution we began with, 15 while it is said “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as at the embittering.” 16 For who did the embittering when they had heard? why, was it not all who had come out of Egypt by Moses’s agency? 17 and with whom was he disgusted for forty years? was it not with those who had sinned, whose limbs dropped in the wilderness? 18 and to whom did he swear that they should not come into his rest except to those who had disbelieved? 19 and we see that they could not come in because of unbelief.

4 So let us be afraid lest when there is left a promise of coming into his rest any one of you should perchance appear to have fallen short— 2*** for we have heard a gospel, as they too had, but the words they heard did them no good, they not meeting the hearers with faith. 3* For we believers come into rest, as he says “as I swore in my anger ‘They shall not come into my rest’” though it was back at the foundation of the world that the works were done. 4 For he somewhere says like this about the seventh day, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,” 5 and in this passage again “They shall not come into my rest”; 6* so since it remains that some come into it, and those who heard the gospel before did not come in because of disobedience, 7 he again defines a certain day, “today,” saying in David so long afterward, as aforesaid, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had brought them to rest he would not be speaking about another day afterward. 9 So then there remains a sabbath for God’s people. 10 For he who has come into his rest is resting from his own works just as God did from his. 11 So let us make it our concern to come into that rest, in order that no one may fall by the same pattern of disobedience. 12 For God’s word is living and effective and a surer cutter than any two-edged sword, and penetrative to the dissection of soul and spirit, of joints and marrows, and a judge of a heart’s thoughts and conceptions; 13* and not a creature escapes his notice, but everything is naked and thrown flat on its back for his eyes of whom we are speaking.

14 So, having a great high priest who has gone past the skies, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold on to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest that cannot feel our weaknesses, but one who has met temptations of like nature in all respects without sin. 16 So let us come to the throne of grace with confidence in order that we may obtain mercy and find grace for timely help.

5 For every high priest, taken from among men, is appointed on men’s behalf in their relations to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, 2 being able to take a reasonable attitude toward those who blunder and stray since he too is beset by weakness 3 and because of it is obliged to offer sin-offerings on his own account just as he does on the people’s. 4* And one does not take the honor to himself but enters upon it at God’s call in the same way as Aaron did. 5** In this same way the Christ did not glorify himself into the office of high priest, but he who spoke to him in the words “You are my son, I have this day brought you to birth,” 6 as he says in another passage too “You are a priest forever in such station as Melchisedek’s was.”

7 Who, having in his days of flesh offered with strong outcries and tears both petitions and supplications to him who could save him from death, and having been listened to for his godliness, 8* learned obedience by suffering, Son though he was, 9 and, perfected, became for all who obey him the author of an eternal salvation, 10 being addressed by God as a high priest “in such station as Melchisedek’s was.”

11 —About whom we have much to say, and hard to explain in the saying, since you have come to be dull-eared— 12* for when you ought to be teachers on account of the time that has elapsed, you are again in need of having someone teach you the primary elements of God’s oracles, and have come to be in need of milk, not of solid food. 13* For anyone who takes milk is unversed in the discussion of righteousness; for he is an infant, 14 but solid food is for grown men, those who from experience have their senses exercised for discrimination between good and bad.

6** Wherefore let us drop primary propositions about the Christ and push on to adult work, not re-laying a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms and laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

4 For it is impossible to renew again to repentance those who were once lighted up and tasted the heavenly gift and became partakers in the Holy Spirit 5 and tasted God’s good word and the powers of a future age, 6 and have gone off the track; men that are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and making a spectacle of him. 7 For land that has drunk the rain which came repeatedly upon it and brings forth vegetation fit for the purposes of those on whose account it is worked enjoys a blessing from God, 8* but such as puts out thorns and thistles is worthless and close to a curse, coming in the end to burning.

9 But we are persuaded of better things about you, dear friends, and things that go with salvation, though we do speak thus. 10 For God is not unjust, to forget your work and the love you have displayed toward his name in the services you have rendered and are rendering to his people. 11 But we wish each of you might display the same earnestness with reference to certitude of hope to the end, 12 in order that you may not come out dullards but imitators of those who through faith and patience were granted the promises.

13 For in giving Abraham the promise God, since he had no way to swear by any greater, swore by himself 14 “Verily I will bless you and make you numerous.” 15 And thus when he had been patient he won the promise. 16* For men swear by the greater, and the oath is for them the assuring end of all contradiction; 17 which being so, God, wishing particularly to show the grantees of the promise the immutability of his plan, interposed with an oath, 18 in order that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we might have a strong encouragement, we who have sought refuge in grasping the hope that lies before us. 19 Which hope we have as an anchor for the soul, safe and firm and going inside the curtain, 20 where Jesus went in for us in advance when he became high priest forever in such station as Melchisedek’s was.

7 For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who came to meet Abraham as he returned from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything,—translated, in the first place, “King of Righteousness,” and then also “king of Salem,” which is “king of peace,” 3 fatherless, motherless, pedigreeless, not having either a beginning of days or an end of life but put in like condition with the Son of God,—remains a priest in perpetuity. 4 And see what a man this was, to whom Abraham, the founder of the nation, gave a tithe out of the spoils! 5* and those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have orders to tithe the people in accordance with the law, that is, to tithe their brothers even though they have come out of Abraham’s loins; 6 but he who does not count his ancestry from them has tithed Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And beyond any dispute the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 And here men who die receive tithes, but there one who has it attested that he lives. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, he who receives tithes, has been tithed; 10 for he was still in his father’s loins when Melchisedek came to meet him.

11* So if perfection was attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for the people has its legislation on that basis), what more need was there that another priest be set up in such station as Melchisedek’s was and not be said to be in such station as Aaron’s? 12 for when the priesthood is shifted there necessarily comes a shift of law too. 13* For he of whom these things are said is a member of another tribe, from which nobody has tended the altar; 14 for it is a conspicuous fact that our Lord has arisen out of Judah, with reference to which tribe Moses spoke nothing about priests. 15 And it is all the more evident if in likeness to Melchisedek another priest is set up 16 who has become such not as determined by the law of a commandment for flesh but as determined by the power of indestructible life; 17 for he has the attestation “You are a priest forever in such station as Melchisedek’s was.”

18 For there ensues abrogation of a prior commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law did not complete anything) and introduction of a better hope through which we approach God. 20 And so far as regards its not being without the taking of an oath 21 (for those are priests made such without the taking of an oath, but he with the taking of an oath, through him who says to him “The Lord has sworn, and will not revoke it, ‘You are priest forever’”), 22 to that extent has Jesus become guarantor of a better covenant. 23 And those have been a number of priests because prevented by death from staying in their place; 24 but he, because of remaining forever, has his priesthood inalienable, 25 wherefore he can totally save those who come to God through him, he being always alive to intercede for them. 26* For such a high priest was the right one for us, godly, innocent, unpolluted, separated from sinners and risen to be higher than the heavens, 27 who does not, like the high priests, have daily necessity to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, then for those of the people; for this he did once for all in making the offering of himself. 28 For the law appoints men as high priests, men who have weaknesses; but the oath-taking word that came after the law a Son, perfected forever.

8 And, the main point for what we are talking about, we have such a high priest as has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens, 2* a ministrant of the true sanctuary and the true tent which the Lord pitched, not a man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; whence it is necessary that this one too should have something to offer. 4 If then he were on earth he would not be a priest at all, there being those who offer the gifts in accordance with the law, 5 who perform the service of a model and shadow of the heavenly, as Moses had the revelation made to him when he was going to execute the Tent; for it says “See that you make everything in conformity with the figure that was showed you on the mountain.” 6 But now he enjoys a more transcendent ministry insofar as he is also mediator of a better covenant which has its legislation on the basis of better promises.

7* For if that first one had been irreproachable there would be no looking for a place for a second. 8 For he says, reproaching them, “Here are days coming, says the Lord, that I will execute regarding the house of Israel and the house of Judah a new covenant— 9 not like the covenant I made for their fathers on the day of my taking them by the hand to bring them out of Egypt, because they did not adhere to my covenant and I left them to themselves, says the Lord; 10 because this is the covenant I will establish for the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, putting my laws into their mind and inscribing them on their hearts, and they shall have me for their God and I will have them for my people, 11 and they shall not be each teaching his fellow-citizen and each his brother ‘Know the Lord,’ because they shall all know me from the least to the greatest of them, 12 because I will be gracious to their wrong-doings and will no longer remember their sins.” 13 In saying “new” he has antiquated the first one; but what is being antiquated and showing its old age is somewhere near disappearance.

9** So the first one did have ordinances of service and its sanctuary of a mundane sort. 2 For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which the lampstand and the showbread were, which tent is designated as Holy, 3 and after the second curtain a tent, the one designated as Holiest of the Holy, 4 with a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant coated all over with gold, in which there were a gold jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s stick that sprouted, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and up on top of it cherubim of glory shading the mercy-seat,—about which things it is not practicable to tell in detail now. 6 And, these things being thus arranged, into the first tent the priests are all the time coming in to go through with the services, 7 but into the second the high priest only, once a year, not without blood which he offers for the people’s indiscretions, 8* what the Holy Spirit meant to express being this, that the way to the sanctuary had not yet been brought to light while the first tent was still standing. 9 Which is a parable for the present time; in keeping with which there are being offered gifts and sacrifices that cannot perfect the worshiper as to conscience, 10 only on the score of foods and drinks and different ablutions: ordinances for flesh, imposed till a time of rectification.

11 But when Christ arrived, high priest of good things that had come into existence, by way of the greater and more perfect tent, not man-made,—that is, not of this creation,—and not by virtue of blood of goats and steers but by his own blood, 12 he entered the holy place once for all, achieving an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and ashes of a heifer sprinkling the defiled, hallow one as regards the cleanness of the flesh, 14** how much more will the blood of the Christ, who by the working of an eternal Spirit offered himself as a faultless oblation to God, cleanse our conscience from the corpses of our deeds for worshiping a living God! 15 And this is why he is mediator of a new covenant, so that, a death having taken place to cancel the transgressions under the first covenant, those who had been called might receive the promised eternal inheritance.

16* For where there is a testament it is necessary that the testator’s death be put in evidence; 17 for it is for the affairs of the dead that a testament is valid, since when the testator is alive it is not at the time in effect. 18 Whence it comes that not even the first one was inaugurated without blood. 19 For after every commandment had been spoken to all the people by Moses in accordance with the law, he took the blood of the steers and goats with water and scarlet wool and marjoram and sprinkled the book itself and all the people, 20 saying “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded for you.” 21 And he likewise sprinkled with the blood the tent and all the vessels for the services; 22 and, broadly speaking, according to the law everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood no exoneration takes place.

23 So there is a necessity that the models of what is in the heavens be cleansed with these things but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices transcending these. 24* For it was not into a man-made sanctuary, a reproduction of the true one, that Christ went in, but into heaven itself, to appear in God’s presence now for us; 25 neither was it with a view to offering himself repeatedly as the high priest goes into the sanctuary year after year by another creature’s blood, 26* else he would have had to suffer over and over since the foundation of the world; but now it is once, at the culmination of the ages, that he has shown himself for the annulment of sin by his sacrifice. 27* And as surely as it is reserved for men to die once, but after this a judgment, 28 so too the Christ, offered once to take up the sins of many, will appear a second time, clear of sin, for salvation, to those who are awaiting him.

10**** For the law, having a shadow of the future good, not the very image of the things, can never year by year with the same sacrifices, which they are offering, perfect in perpetuity those who come; 2** else would they not have ceased to be offered because the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer have had sins on their conscience? 3 but in them there is a remembrance of sins year by year, 4 for it is impossible that blood of goats and bulls should take away sins; 5 for which reason as he comes into the world he says “Sacrifice and offering thou hadst no will for, but a body thou didst fit for me; 6 burnt-offerings and sin-offerings thou didst not approve. 7 Then I said ‘Here I come, in a roll of a book it is written of me, to do thy will, God.’” 8 Saying above “Sacrifices and offerings and burnt-offerings and sin-offerings thou hadst no will for and didst not approve,” which are offered according to the law, 9 he has then said “Here I come to do thy will”; he abolishes the first to make good the second; 10 in which will we have been sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands day by day performing his services and repeatedly offering the same sacrifices, which can never remove sins; 12 but this one, having offered one sacrifice for sins, took a seat in perpetuity at God’s right hand, 13 thenceforth waiting till his enemies be made the footstool for his feet, 14 for by one offering he has brought those who were to be sanctified into perfect status in perpetuity. 15 And the Holy Spirit too gives us testimony; for after having said 16 “this is the covenant I will establish for them after those days, says the Lord, putting my laws on their hearts and inscribing them on their mind,” 17* comes “and will no longer remember their sins and their wickednesses.” 18* But where there is exoneration from these there is no more offering of anything for sin.

19 So, brothers, having confidence for entrance into the sanctuary by Jesus’s blood, 20* which entrance he inaugurated for us, a fresh and living passage through the curtain (that is, his flesh), 21* and having a great priest over God’s house, 22 let us come with a true heart in certitude of faith, our hearts sprinkled from bad conscience and our bodies washed with clean water; 23 let us hold erect the profession of our faith, for he who made the promises is faithful, 24 and let us observe each other to stimulate us to love and good works, 25 not abandoning our assemblies as some have a way of doing, but cheering on; and the more as you see the day coming nearer.

26 For if we sin willfully after having had the recognition of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a frightful waiting for judgment, and the jealousy of a fire that is to consume foes. 28 When one has disregarded Moses’s law he dies without mercy at two or three witnesses; 29 how much worse a penalty do you think he will be deemed to deserve who has trampled on the Son of God and has regarded as unholy the covenant blood by which he was sanctified and has affronted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know who it was that said “Mine is vengeance; I will requite,” and again “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

32 But recollect the earlier days in which after you were given the light you held out through a hard grind of suffering, 33 for one thing being made a spectacle of with insults and distresses, and for another thing showing your solidarity with those who were leading such a life— 34* for you shared the suffering of the imprisoned and accepted cheerfully the pillage of your property, knowing that you have better belongings that stay by you. 35 So do not throw up your confidence, which has great wages payable. 36 For staying power is what it takes, that after doing God’s will you may receive the fulfillment of the promise: 37 “for yet the least moment—he who is coming will come and not be belated. 38 And my righteous man shall have life out of faith; and if he flinches my soul takes no satisfaction in him.” 39 And we are not for flinching that comes to destruction, but for faith that comes to soul-preservation.

11* And faith is assuming the validity of hopes, putting unseen things to the test. 2* For it is as to this the old-timers are vouched for.

3 It is by faith we apprehend that the worlds were set in order by a word of God’s, so that it is not out of observable things that what we see was made.

4 It was by faith Abel offered to God more of a sacrifice than Cain, through which he had himself attested to be righteous, God testifying over his gifts; and it is through it he still speaks after he dies.

5 It was by faith Enoch was translated so as not to see death, and was not to be found because God had translated him; for before the translation he was vouched for as having pleased God, 6* but without faith it is impossible to please; for he who comes to God has to believe that he is and that to those who seek him he proves a paymaster.

7 It was by faith Noah, receiving a revelation about what could not yet be seen, was on his guard and constructed an ark for the saving of his family, through which he pronounced condemnation on the world and became heir to the righteousness that comes in the way of faith.

8 It was by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to a place he was to get for an inheritance, and did go out, not knowing where he was going. 9 It was by faith he lived in an immigrant’s condition in the country he had the promise of as if in a country not his own, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was waiting for the city that has the foundations, of which God is architect and artisan. 11 It was by faith Sarah herself too received power for founding a line of descendants even out of her time of life, since she regarded the giver of the promise as trustworthy; 12* because of which, also, there were born from one—and one who had gone dead, at that—descendants numerous as the stars in the sky or as the uncountable sand on the seashore.

13 In faith all these died, not having received the promised things but having seen and greeted them at a distance and avowed that on the earth they were strangers living away from their home. 14* For those who say things of that sort make it manifest that they are wanting a home. 15* And if they had been remembering that one from which they had gone out, they would have had a suitable time for going back; 16 but as it is, they are bent on a better one, that is, a heavenly one. For which reason God is not ashamed of them, of being designated as their God; for he has got a city ready for them.

17 It was by faith Abraham, when put to the test, brought Isaac as a sacrifice, and he who had taken the promises to himself, 18 to whom the word had been spoken “it will be by Isaac that issue shall be called yours,” was sacrificing his only son, 19 counting on it that God is powerful enough to raise from the dead, wherefrom he did, figuratively speaking, receive him.

20 It was by faith, too, Isaac gave Jacob and Esau a blessing about future things.

21 It was by faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and did reverence on the top of his staff.

22 It was by faith Joseph, when passing away, mentioned the coming out of the sons of Israel from Egypt and gave a command about his bones.

23 It was by faith Moses, when born, was hidden three months by his parents because they saw the child was a pretty one, and they were not afraid of the king’s order.

24 It was by faith Moses, when he grew up, renounced being known as Pharaoh’s daughter’s son, 25 choosing rather to share the hardships of God’s people than to have temporary enjoyment from a sin, 26 regarding the insults given to the Christ as a greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt; for he had his eye on the wages to be paid. 27 It was by faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s rage, for he bore up as seeing the Invisible One. 28 It was by faith he celebrated the passover and the application of the blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

29 It was by faith they crossed the Red Sea as if along dry ground; attempting which, the Egyptians were swallowed up.

30* It was by faith the walls of Jericho fell after seven days of circling around them.

31 It was by faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who had been disobedient, she having received the spies with peace.

32 And why say more? for the time will fail me as I tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith put down kingdoms, did service to the right, won promises, stopped lions’ mouths, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were brought to powerfulness from weakness, became strong in war, routed camps of aliens. 35** Women received their dead in resurrection; and others were beaten to death and did not accept a chance of getting off, in order that a better resurrection might be theirs; 36 and others experienced derisive indignities and lashes, and chains and prison life moreover. 37* They were stoned, sawed in two, put to the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, suffering want, distress, hardship, 38 they of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

39 And all these, though by faith they had themselves vouched for, did not receive what was promised, 40 as God looked forward to something better regarding us, so that they were not to come to completeness apart from us.

12* Consequently let us too, having around us such a cloud of witnesses, take off everything heavy, and trammeling sin, and run steadily the race that lies before us, 2 looking to him who led the way in faith and brought it to completeness, Jesus, who for the joy that lay before him endured a cross, despising shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God’s throne. 3* For think over the case of him who has endured such opposition from sinners against themselves, so that you may not lose your nerve and give out.

4 You have not yet stood up to your fight with sin till the blood ran; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as sons, “My son, do not slight the Lord’s discipline nor be disheartened when you are corrected by him, 6 for it is the one the Lord loves that he disciplines, and he whips every son that he accepts.” 7* It is for discipline that you have trials to endure; God is treating you as sons; for what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 but if you are without discipline, of which all have had their share, then you are bastards and not sons. 9** And then, we had our bodily fathers as disciplinarians and stood in awe of them; shall we not much more be submissive to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a few days as they saw fit, but he for our advantage so that we shall partake of his holiness. 11* Any discipline does not in its present aspect seem to be a thing for gladness but for pain; but afterward it yields a peaceful fruit to those who have had their training by it, the fruit of righteousness.

12 Wherefore, brace up the unstrung hands and the palsied knees, 13* and make straight tracks for your feet, in order that what is lame may not get a sprain but may rather heal up. 14 Aim at peace with everyone, and sanctification (without which nobody will see the Lord), 15* having an eye to it that nobody coming short of God’s grace, no root of bitterness sending up its sprout, shall make trouble and thereby the rank and file be polluted, 16 no libertine or unsanctified man like Esau, who for one meal sold his rights as eldest son; 17 for you know how when he did afterward want to inherit the blessing he was ruled out; for he did not find a chance to change his mind though he tried for it in tears.

18* For you have not come to something tangible and burned with fire and to darkness and gloom and thick air, 19* and trumpet-tone, and such a sound of words that the hearers declined to have more said to them, 20 for they could not bear the charge that was given, “if even a beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned,” 21 and, so fearful was the display, Moses said “I quail and quiver”; 22 but you have come to Mount Sion and the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and tens of thousands of angels 23 in festival throng, and a church of firstborn sons registered in heaven, and God the Judge of all, and the spirits of perfected saints, 24 and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and a blood of sprinkling that speaks better than Abel’s. 25 See to it that you do not decline him who speaks; for if those did not escape when they had on earth declined him who was giving the revelation, much more we, who turn our backs on him who is doing it from heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised “One time more I will shake not only the earth but the sky too.” 27 And “one time more” expresses the displacement of the shaken things as of things that have been made, in order that the unshaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, raised to the throne of an unshakable empire, let us have a thankful spirit, through which we shall worship God acceptably; with reverence and fear— 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

13 Let brotherliness persist. 2 Do not forget hospitableness, for by it some men had angels as guests before they knew it. 3 Remember those in prison, as being fellow-prisoners; those in hardship, as being in a body yourselves. 4* Marriage, highly honored in all respects, and the bed unpolluted; for God will judge libertines and adulterers. 5 Character, unmercenary; getting along with what there is on hand, for he himself has said “I will not neglect you nor abandon you,” 6** so that we can say stoutly “I have the Lord as helper and will not be frightened; what is a man to do to me?”

7 Be mindful of your leaders who spoke God’s word to you; whose faith imitate, viewing the way they passed out of the life they had led. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. 9** Do not be swept along with miscellaneous peculiar doctrines; for it is a good thing that the heart be held firm by grace—not by foods, in which those who concern themselves with them did not get any benefit. 10 We have an altar from which those who perform the service of the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11* For when the blood of animals is brought into the holy place by the high priest on account of sin, the bodies of these are burned up outside the camp; 12 for which reason so did Jesus, in order to sanctify the people by his own blood, suffer outside the gate; 13 well, then, let us come out to him outside the camp, bearing his ignominy. 14 For we do not have a permanent city here, but are trying for the future one.

15* Through him let us offer a sacrifice of praise to God all the time; that is, the fruit of lips making acknowledgments to his name. 16 And do not forget beneficence and solidarity; for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17 Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they are on the alert night and day in behalf of your souls, expecting to have to account for them; in order that they may do that with gladness, not with groans, for this would not pay you. 18 Pray for us; for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, intending to lead a good life in every respect. 19 And I more especially urge you to do this in order that I may be restored to you the more quickly.

20 And may the God of peace, who by virtue of the blood of an eternal covenant brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, 21 make you fit in every good quality for doing his will, bringing about in you what shall be pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever; amen. 22 But I beg you, brothers, take the word of exhortation in good part—for I have given you a short letter.

23 Know that our brother Timothy has been released; with whom, if he comes pretty soon, I will see you.

24* Give my greetings to all your leaders and all God’s people. The brothers from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.

MARGINAL NOTES ON HEBREWS