1:1God, having in the past spoken to
the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 1:2has at the end of these days
spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through
whom also he made the worlds. 1:3His Son is the radiance of his
glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the
word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins,
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 1:4having
become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more
excellent name than they have. 1:5For to which of the angels did he
say at any time,
"You are my Son,
Today have I become your father?"
and again,
"I will be to him a Father,
And he will be to me a Son?"
1:6Again, when he brings in the
firstborn into the world he says, "Let all the angels of God worship
him." 1:7Of the angels he says,
"Who makes his angels winds,
And his servants a flame of
fire."
"You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the
earth.
The heavens are the works of your
hands.
1:11They will perish, but you
continue.
They all will grow old like a garment
does.
1:12As a mantle you will roll them up,
And they will be changed;
But you are the same.
Your years will not fail."
1:13But of which of the angels has he
said at any time,
"Sit at my right hand,
Until I make your enemies the
footstool of your feet?"
1:14Aren't they all ministering
spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit
salvation?
Listen to Chapter 2
2:1Therefore we ought to pay greater
attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. 2:2For if the word spoken through
angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received
a just recompense; 2:3how will we escape if we neglect
so great a salvation-- which at the first having been spoken through the
Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard; 2:4God also
bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various works
of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will? 2:5For he didn't subject the world to
come, of which we speak, to angels. 2:6But one has
somewhere testified, saying,
"What is man, that you think of him?
Or the son of man, that you care for
him?
2:7You made him a little lower than
the angels;
You crowned him with glory and
honor.*
2:8You have put
all things in subjection under his feet."
For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not
subject to him. But now we don't see all things subjected to him, yet. 2:9But we see him who has been made a
little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death
crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of
death for everyone. 2:10For it became him, for whom are
all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to
glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
2:11For both he who sanctifies and
those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not
ashamed to call them brothers, 2:12saying,
"I will declare your name to my brothers.
In the midst of the congregation I
will sing your praise."
2:13Again, "I will put my trust
in him." Again, "Behold, here am I and the children whom God has
given me." 2:14Since then the children have
shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the
same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power
of death, that is, the devil, 2:15and might deliver all of them who
through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 2:16For most assuredly, not to angels
does he give help, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham. 2:17Therefore he was obligated in all
things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for
the sins of the people. 2:18For in that he himself has
suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
Listen to Chapter 3
3:1Therefore, holy brothers,
partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of
our confession, Jesus; 3:2who was faithful to him who
appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house. 3:3For he has
been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who built the
house has more honor than the house. 3:4For every
house is built by someone; but he who built all things is God. 3:5Moses indeed was faithful in all
his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were
afterward to be spoken, 3:6but Christ is faithful as a Son
over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the
glorying of our hope firm to the end. 3:7Therefore,
even as the Holy Spirit says,
"Today if you will hear his voice,
3:8Don't harden your hearts, as in
the provocation,
Like as in the day of the trial in
the wilderness,
3:9Where your fathers tested me by
proving me,
And saw my works for forty years.
3:10Therefore I was displeased with
that generation,
And said, 'They always err in their
heart,
But they didn't know my ways;'
3:11As I swore in my wrath,
'They will not enter into my
rest.'"
3:12Beware, brothers, lest perhaps
there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from
the living God; 3:13but exhort one another day by
day, so long as it is called "today;" lest any one of you be
hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 3:14For we have
become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our
confidence firm to the end: 3:15while it is said,
"Today if you will hear his voice,
Don't harden your hearts, as in the
rebellion."
3:16For who, when they heard,
rebelled? No, didn't all those who came out of Egypt by Moses? 3:17With whom was he displeased forty
years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the
wilderness? 3:18To whom did he swear that they
wouldn't enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 3:19We see that they were not able to
enter in because of unbelief.
Listen to Chapter 4
4:1Let us fear therefore, lest
perhaps a promise being left of entering into his rest, anyone of you
should seem to have come short of it. 4:2For indeed
we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word
they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those
who heard. 4:3For we who have believed do enter
into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they
will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from
the foundation of the world. 4:4For he has said this somewhere
about the seventh day, "God rested on the seventh day from all his
works;" 4:5and in this place again,
"They will not enter into my rest."
4:6Seeing therefore it remains that
some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before
preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, 4:7he again
defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time
afterward (just as has been said),
"Today if you will hear his voice,
Don't harden your hearts."
4:8For if Joshua had given them rest,
he would not have spoken afterward of another day. 4:9There
remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 4:10For he who has entered into his
rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. 4:11Let us therefore give diligence
to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of
disobedience. 4:12For the word of God is living,
and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the
dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to
discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
4:13There is no creature that is
hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the
eyes of him with whom we have to do. 4:14Having then
a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God, let us hold tightly to our confession. 4:15For we
don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet
without sin. 4:16Let us therefore draw near with
boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find
grace for help in time of need.
Listen to Chapter 5
5:1For every high priest, being taken
from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he
may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 5:2The high
priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray,
because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. 5:3Because of
this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for
himself. 5:4Nobody takes this honor on
himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was. 5:5So also Christ didn't glorify
himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him,
"You are my Son.
Today I have become your father."
"You are a priest forever,
After the order of Melchizedek."
5:7He, in the days of his flesh,
having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to
him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his
godly fear, 5:8though he was a Son, yet learned
obedience by the things which he suffered. 5:9Having been
made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal
salvation, 5:10named by God a high priest after
the order of Melchizedek. 5:11About him we have many words to
say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing. 5:12For when by reason of the time
you ought to be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the
rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to
need milk, and not solid food. 5:13For everyone who lives on milk is
not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. 5:14But solid food is for those who
are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to
discern good and evil.
Listen to Chapter 6
6:1Therefore leaving the doctrine of
the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying
again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, 6:2of the teaching of baptisms, of
laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
6:3This will we do, if God permits.
6:4For concerning those who were once
enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of
the Holy Spirit, 6:5and tasted the good word of God,
and the powers of the age to come, 6:6and then
fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they
crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame. 6:7For the land which has drunk the
rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a crop suitable for them for
whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God; 6:8but if it bears thorns and
thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
6:9But, beloved, we are persuaded of
better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we
speak like this. 6:10For God is not unrighteous, so as
to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his
name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them. 6:11We desire that each one of you
may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end, 6:12that you won't be sluggish, but
imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.
6:13For when God made a promise to
Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, 6:14saying, "Most surely I will
bless you, and I will surely multiply you." 6:15Thus,
having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 6:16For men
indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is
final for confirmation. 6:17In this way God, being determined
to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of
his counsel, interposed with an oath; 6:18that by two
immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a
strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope
set before us. 6:19This hope we have as an anchor of
the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is
within the veil; 6:20where as a forerunner Jesus
entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of
Melchizedek.
Listen to Chapter 7
7:1For this Melchizedek, king of
Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 7:2to whom also
Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, king
of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace; 7:3without father, without mother,
without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but
made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually. 7:4Now consider how great this man
was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best
spoils. 7:5They indeed of the sons of Levi
who receive the priest's office have a commandment to take tithes of the
people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have
come out of the loins of Abraham, 7:6but he whose
genealogy is not counted from them has taken tithes of Abraham, and has
blessed him who has the promises. 7:7But without
any dispute the less is blessed by the better. 7:8Here people
who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is
testified that he lives. 7:9So to say, through Abraham even
Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes, 7:10for he was
yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 7:11Now if there was perfection
through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received
the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after
the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 7:12For the priesthood being changed,
there is of necessity a change made also in the law. 7:13For he of
whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has
officiated at the altar. 7:14For it is evident that our Lord
has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning
priesthood. 7:15This is yet more abundantly
evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
7:16who has been made, not after the
law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life: 7:17for it is testified,
"You are a priest forever,
According to the order of
Melchizedek."
7:18For there is an annulling of a
foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 7:19(for the law made nothing
perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we
draw near to God. 7:20Inasmuch as he was not made
priest without the taking of an oath 7:21(for they
indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him
that says of him,
"The Lord swore and will not change his mind,
'You are a priest forever,
According to the order of
Melchizedek'".
7:22By so much has Jesus become the
collateral of a better covenant. 7:23Many,
indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing
by death. 7:24But he, because he lives forever,
has his priesthood unchangeable. 7:25Therefore
he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God
through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
7:26For such a high priest was
fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and
made higher than the heavens; 7:27who doesn't need, like those high
priests, to daily offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then
for the sins of the people. For this he did once for all, when he offered
up himself. 7:28For the law appoints men as high
priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the
law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.
Listen to Chapter 8
8:1Now in the things which we are
saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down
on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 8:2a minister of the sanctuary, and
of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 8:3For every high priest is appointed
to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this
high priest also have something to offer. 8:4For if he
were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests
who offer the gifts according to the law; 8:5who serve a
copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God
when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, "See, you
shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on
the mountain." 8:6But now he has obtained a more
excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better
covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. 8:7For if that
first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought
for a second. 8:8For finding fault with them, he
said,
"Behold, the days come," says the Lord,
"That I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
8:9Not according to the covenant that
I made with their fathers,
In the day that I took them by the
hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
For they didn't continue in my covenant,
And I disregarded them," says
the Lord.
8:10"For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel.
After those days," says the Lord;
"I will put my laws into their mind,
I will also write them on their heart.
I will be to them a God,
And they will be to me a people.
8:11They will not teach every man his
fellow citizen,
Every man his brother, saying, 'Know
the Lord,'
For all will know me,
From the least of them to the
greatest of them.
8:12For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness.
I will remember their sins and
lawless deeds no more."
8:13In that he says, "A new
covenant," he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old
and grows aged is near to vanishing away.
Listen to Chapter 9
9:1Now indeed even the first*
covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary. 9:2For there was a tabernacle
prepared. In the first part were the lampstand, the table, and the show
bread; which is called the Holy Place. 9:3After the
second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 9:4having a golden altar of incense,
and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was
a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of
the covenant; 9:5and above it cherubim of glory
overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can't now speak in
detail. 9:6Now these things having been thus
prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle,
accomplishing the services, 9:7but into the second the high
priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for
himself, and for the errors of the people. 9:8The Holy
Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn't yet
revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; 9:9which is a symbol of the present
age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning
the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; 9:10being only
(with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed
until a time of reformation.
9:11But Christ having come as a high
priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 9:12nor yet through the blood of
goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into
the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 9:13For if the
blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who
have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: 9:14how much more will the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to
God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 9:15For this reason he is the
mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption
of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who
have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 9:16For where a last will and
testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. 9:17For a will is in force where
there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.
9:18Therefore even the first covenant
has not been dedicated without blood. 9:19For when
every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to
the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and
scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the
people, 9:20saying, "This is the blood
of the covenant which God has commanded you."
9:21Moreover he sprinkled the
tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in like manner with the
blood. 9:22According to the law, nearly
everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there
is no remission. 9:23It was necessary therefore that
the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but
the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 9:24For Christ hasn't entered into
holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but
into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 9:25nor yet that he should offer
himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year
with blood not his own, 9:26or else he must have suffered
often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the
ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 9:27Inasmuch as it is appointed for
men to die once, and after this, judgment, 9:28so Christ
also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will appear a
second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for
salvation.
Listen to Chapter 10
10:1For the law, having a shadow of
the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the
same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect
those who draw near. 10:2Or else wouldn't they have ceased
to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would
have had no more consciousness of sins? 10:3But in
those sacrifices there is yearly reminder of sins. 10:4For it is
impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. 10:5Therefore when he comes into the
world, he says,
"Sacrifice and offering you didn't desire,
But a body did you prepare for me;
10:6In whole burnt offerings and
sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure. 10:7Then I
said, 'Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of me)
To do your will, God.'"
10:8Previously saying,
"Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin you didn't desire, neither had pleasure in them" (those which
are offered according to the law), 10:9then he has
said, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He takes away the
first, that he may establish the second, 10:10by which
will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all. 10:11Every priest indeed stands day
by day ministering and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never
take away sins, 10:12but he, when he had offered one
sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 10:13from that time waiting until his
enemies are made the footstool of his feet. 10:14For by one
offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 10:15The Holy Spirit also testifies
to us, for after saying,
10:16"This is the covenant that
I will make with them:
'After those days,' says the Lord,
'I will put my laws on their heart,
I will also write them on their
mind;'"
then he says,
10:17"I will remember their sins
and their iniquities no more."
10:18Now where remission of these is,
there is no more offering for sin. 10:19Having
therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of
Jesus, 10:20by the way which he dedicated
for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
10:21and having a great priest over
the house of God, 10:22let's draw near with a true
heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience, and having our body washed with pure water, 10:23let us hold fast the confession
of our hope unyieldingly. For he who promised is faithful.
10:24Let us consider how to provoke
one another to love and good works, 10:25not
forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but
exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day
approaching. 10:26For if we sin willfully after we
have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a
sacrifice for sins, 10:27but a certain fearful
expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the
adversaries. 10:28A man who disregards Moses' law
dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. 10:29How much worse punishment, do
you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son
of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was
sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 10:30For we know him who said,
"Vengeance belongs to me," says the Lord, "I will
repay." Again, "The Lord will judge his people." 10:31It is a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God. 10:32But
remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you
endured a great struggle with sufferings; 10:33partly,
being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming
partakers with those who were treated so. 10:34For you
both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the
plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a
better possession and an enduring one in the heavens. 10:35Therefore don't throw away your
boldness, which has a great reward. 10:36For you
need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the
promise.
10:37"In a very little while,
He who comes will come, and will not
wait.
10:38But the righteous will live by
faith.
If he shrinks back, my soul has no
pleasure in him."
10:39But we are not of those who
shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of
the soul.
Listen to Chapter 11
11:1Now faith is assurance of things
hoped for, proof of things not seen. 11:2For by
this, the elders obtained testimony. 11:3By faith,
we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so
that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. 11:4By faith, Abel offered to God a
more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given
to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness with respect to his
gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks. 11:5By faith,
Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death, and he was not found,
because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that
before his translation he had been well pleasing to God. 11:6Without faith it is impossible to
be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he
exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. 11:7By faith, Noah, being warned
about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the
saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir
of the righteousness which is according to faith. 11:8By faith,
Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to
receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. 11:9By faith, he lived as an alien in
the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with
Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 11:10For he looked for the city which
has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11:11By faith, even Sarah herself
received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age,
since she counted him faithful who had promised. 11:12Therefore
as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the
sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good
as dead. 11:13These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but having seen* them and embraced
them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. 11:14For those who say such things
make it clear that they are seeking after a country of their own. 11:15If indeed they had been thinking
of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time
to return. 11:16But now they desire a better
country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to
be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
11:17By faith, Abraham, being tested,
offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was
offering up his one and only son; 11:18even he to
whom it was said, "In Isaac will your seed be called;" 11:19accounting that God is able to
raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive
him back from the dead. 11:20By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob
and Esau, even concerning things to come. 11:21By faith,
Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and
worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 11:22By faith,
Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the
children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones. 11:23By faith, Moses, when he was
born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he
was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
11:24By faith, Moses, when he had
grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 11:25choosing rather to share ill
treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
time; 11:26accounting the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the
reward. 11:27By faith, he left Egypt, not
fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is
invisible. 11:28By faith, he kept the Passover,
and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn
should not touch them. 11:29By faith, they passed through
the Red sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were
swallowed up. 11:30By faith, the walls of Jericho
fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. 11:31By faith, Rahab the prostitute,
didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies
in peace. 11:32What more shall I say? For the
time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David,
Samuel, and the prophets; 11:33who, through faith subdued
kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths
of lions, 11:34quenched the power of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty
in war, and turned to flight armies of aliens. 11:35Women
received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting
their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 11:36Others were tried by mocking and
scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. 11:37They were
stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the
sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute,
afflicted, ill-treated 11:38(of whom the world was not
worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the
earth. 11:39These all, having had testimony
given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise, 11:40God having provided some better
thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Listen to Chapter 12
12:1Therefore 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, 12:2looking to Jesus, the author and
perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God. 12:3For consider him who has endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don't grow weary,
fainting in your souls. 12:4You have not yet resisted to
blood, striving against sin; 12:5and you have forgotten the
exhortation which reasons with you as with children,
"My son, don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by
him;
12:6For whom the Lord loves, he
chastens,
And scourges every son whom he
receives."
12:7It is for discipline that you
endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom
his father doesn't discipline? 12:8But if you are without
discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you
illegitimate, and not children. 12:9Furthermore, we had the fathers
of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much
rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? 12:10For they indeed, for a few days,
punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be
partakers of his holiness. 12:11All chastening seems for the
present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the
peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby.
12:12Therefore, lift up the hands
that hang down and the feeble knees, 12:13and make
straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated,
but rather be healed. 12:14Follow after peace with all men,
and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 12:15looking carefully lest there be
any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled; 12:16lest there be any sexually
immoral person, or profane person, as Esau, who sold his birthright for
one meal. 12:17For 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.
12:18For you have not come to a
mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to
blackness, darkness, tempest, 12:19the 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, 12:20for they could not stand that
which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it
shall be stoned*;" 12:21and so
fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am terrified and
trembling."
12:22But you have come to Mount Zion,
and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to
innumerable hosts of angels, 12:23to the general assembly and
assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of
all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 12:24to Jesus,
the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks
better than that of Abel.
12:25See that you don't refuse him
who speaks. For if they didn't 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, 12:26whose 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." 12:27This
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. 12:28Therefore, receiving a Kingdom
that can't be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God
acceptably, with reverence and awe, 12:29for our
God is a consuming fire.
Listen to Chapter 13
13:1Let brotherly love continue. 13:2Don't forget to show hospitality
to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without
knowing it. 13:3Remember those who are in bonds,
as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in
the body. 13:4Let marriage be held in honor
among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually
immoral and adulterers.
13:5Be free from the love of money,
content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no
way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you." 13:6So that with good courage we say,
"The Lord is my helper. I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
13:7Remember your leaders, men who
spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their
conduct, imitate their faith. 13:8Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and forever. 13:9Don't be carried away by various
and 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.
13:10We have an altar from which
those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat. 13:11For 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. 13:12Therefore
Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood,
suffered outside of the gate. 13:13Let us therefore go forth to him
outside of the camp, bearing his reproach. 13:14For we
don't have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come. 13:15Through him, then, let us offer
up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips
which make confession to his name. 13:16But don't
forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well
pleased.
13:17Obey 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.
13:18Pray for us, for we are
persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in
all things. 13:19I strongly urge you to do this,
that I may be restored to you sooner.
13:20Now may the God of peace, who
brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood
of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 13:21make you
complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is
well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
13:22But I exhort you, brothers,
endure the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 13:23Know that our brother Timothy
has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. 13:24Greet all of your leaders and
all the saints. The Italians greet you. 13:25Grace be
with you all. Amen.
