1 GOD, who in many parts and in many ways spoke of old to the fathers by the prophets,
2 in these last days spoke to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds;
3 who, being the brightness of his glory and the impress of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made a cleansing of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4 having become so much superior to the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.
5 For to whom of the angels said he ever: Thou art my Son, I this day have begotten thee; and again: I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son.
6 But when he has again brought in the first-begotten into the world, he says And let all the angels of God worship him.
7 And of the angels he says: Who makes his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire;
8 but of the Son: Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom;
9 Thou lovedst righteousness, and hatedst iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, anointed thee, With the oil of gladness, above thy fellows;
10 and: Thou, Lord, in the beginning, didst found the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands;
11 They will perish, but thou remainest; And they all will become old, as does a garment,
12 And as a vesture thou wilt fold them up, and they will be changed; But thou art the same, And thy years will not fail.
13 But to whom of the angels has he ever said: Sit on my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth for ministration, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
1 ON this account, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things heard, lest haply we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received just retribution,
3 how shall we escape, having neglected so great a salvation; which began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard,
4 God also bearing witness, with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
5 For not to the angels did he put in subjection the world to come, of which we are speaking.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying: What is man, that thou art mindful of him, Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor;
8 Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
9 But we behold him, who was made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, in order that he by the grace of God might taste death for every one.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying: I will declare thy name to my brethren; In the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to thee.
13 And again: I will put my trust in him. And again: Behold, I and the children whom God gave me.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner took part in the same; that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil;
15 and might deliver those who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For surely he does not succor angels; but he succors the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore, in all things it became him to be made like to his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
1 WHEREFORE, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Jesus,
2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all His house.
3 For he has been accounted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who has built the house has more honor than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some one; but he who built all things is God.
5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, as a testimony of the things which were to be afterward spoken;
6 but Christ as son over His house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the boldness and the joyousness of the hope firm unto the end.
7 Wherefore, as the Holy Spirit says: To-day, if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, In the day of the temptation in the wilderness;
9 Where your fathers tempted me, Proved me, and saw my works, forty years.
10 Wherefore, I was offended with that generation; And I said: They always go astray in their heart, And they knew not my ways;
11 As I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called To-day, that no one of you may be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end.
15 When it is said: To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation;
16 who then, when they had heard, provoked? Nay, was it not all who came forth out of Egypt by Moses?
17 But with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with those who sinned? whose carcasses fell in the wilderness.
18 And to whom did he swear, that they should not enter into his rest, but to those who believed not?
19 And we see that they were not able to enter in, because of unbelief.
1 LET us fear therefore, lest, a promise being still left us of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.
2 For to us were the glad tidings preached, as also to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mingled with faith in those who heard.
3 For we who believed enter into the rest, as he said: As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day thus: And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;
5 and in this again: They shall not enter into my rest.
6 Since then it remains that some do enter into it, and they to whom the glad tidings were first preached entered not in because of unbelief, again
7 he limits a certain day, To-day, (saying in David, after so long a time, as has before been said,) To-day, if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not, after this, have spoken of another day.
9 So then, there remains a Sabbath-rest to the people of God.
10 For he that entered into his rest, himself rested from his works, as God did from his own.
11 Let us therefore endeavor to enter into that rest, that no one may fall into the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Having therefore a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not a high priest who can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but who has in all points been tempted in like manner, without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
1 FOR 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;
2 being able to bear with the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is encompassed with infirmity;
3 and on account of it he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to make offering for sins.
4 And no one takes to himself the honor, but being called by God, as was also Aaron.
5 So also Christ did not glorify himself to be made high priest, but he who spoke to him: Thou art my Son, I this day have begotten thee;
6 as also in another place, he says: Thou art a priest forever, After the order of Melchizedek;
7 who, in the days of his flesh offering up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and being heard on account of his godly fear,
8 though a Son yet learned from what he suffered the [required] obedience,
9 and being perfected became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him;
10 called by God, High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek.
11 Of whom we have much to say, and hard to be explained, since ye have become dull of hearing.
12 For though ye ought, on account of the time, to be teachers, ye again have need that some one teach you the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.
13 For every one who partakes of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness; for he is a child.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, who by use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
1 WHEREFORE, leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of immersions, and of the laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this we will do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible that they who have once been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 and have fallen away, should again be renewed to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame.
7 For the earth which has drunk in the rain oft coming upon it, and brings forth herbs fit for those for whose sake it is tilled, receives blessing from God;
8 but if it bears thorns and briers it is rejected, and is near to cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered and still do minister to the saints.
11 But we desire that each one of you show the same diligence, for the full assurance of the hope unto the end;
12 that ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, because he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself,
14 saying: Surely, blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men indeed swear by the greater; and the oath is to them an end of all gainsaying, for a confirmation.
17 Wherein God, wishing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible that God should lie, we may have strong encouragement, who fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us,
19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast, and entering within the vail;
20 where as forerunner for us Jesus entered, having become a high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
1 FOR this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all; first indeed being interpreted King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 without father, without mother, without table of descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but likened to the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom Abraham the patriarch also gave a tenth of the spoils.
5 And they indeed that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they have come out of the loins of Abraham;
6 but he whose descent is not reckoned from them has taken tithes of Abraham, and has blessed him who had the promises.
7 And without any contradiction, the less is blessed by the better.
8 And here indeed men who die receive tithes; but there, one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 And so to speak, Levi also, who receives tithes, has paid tithes in Abraham;
10 for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there that a different priest should arise, after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there comes also a change of law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to a different tribe, of which no one has given attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord has arisen out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 And it is yet more abundantly manifest, if after the similitude of Melchizedek there arises a different priest,
16 who has been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an indissoluble life.
17 For it is testified of him: Thou art a priest forever; After the order of Melchizedek.
18 For on the one hand, there is an annulling of the commandment that went before, on account of its weakness and unprofitableness,
19 for the law perfected nothing,and on the other the bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw near to God.
20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath,
21 for they indeed were made priests without an oath, but he with an oath by him who said to him: The Lord swore and will not repent, thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek,
22 by so much has Jesus become a surety of a better covenant.
23 And they indeed have been many priests, because they were hindered by death from continuing;
24 but he, because he remains forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Whence also he is able to save to the utmost those who come to God through him, since he ever lives to intercede for them.
26 For such a high priest became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 who has not necessity daily, as the high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; for this he did once for all, in offering up himself.
28 For the law makes men high priests who have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is perfected forever.
1 Now of the things which we are saying, this is the chief: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty of the heavens;
2 a minister of the holy places, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; wherefore it is necessary, that this one have something which he may offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer gifts according to the law,
5 who minister after an outline and a shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God, when he was about to make the tabernacle; for, See, says he, that thou make all things according to the pattern which was showed thee in the mount.
6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also mediator of a better covenant, which has been established upon better promises.
7 For if that first had been faultless, a place would not have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he says: Behold the days are coming, saith the Lord, When I will make with the house of Israel, And with the house of Judah, a new covenant;
9 Not according to the covenant that I made for their fathers, In the day when I took hold of their hand, To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Because they continued not in my covenant, And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will establish for the house of Israel, After those days, saith the Lord, Putting my laws into their mind, And on their hearts I will write them; And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people;
11 And they shall not teach, Each one his neighbor, and each one his brother, Saying: Know the Lord; Because all shall know me, from the least to the greatest;
12 Because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, And their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.
13 In that he says, A new, he has made the first old. Now that which is grown old, and worn out with age, is ready to vanish away.
1 NOW the first had indeed also ordinances of service, and the worldly sanctuary.
2 For a tabernacle was prepared; the first, wherein is the lamp-stand, and the table, and the show-bread; which is called holy.
3 And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called most holy,
4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on every side with gold, wherein was the golden pot containing the manna, and the rod of Aaron which budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 and above it the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which we can not now speak particularly.
6 Now these things being thus prepared, into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times, performing the services;
7 but into the second, the high priest alone, once every year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people;
8 the Holy Spirit signifying this, that the way into the holy places has not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing;
9 which is a figure for the time present, under which are offered both gifts and sacrifices, unable as to the conscience to perfect the worshiper;
10 only with meats and drinks, and divers immersions, ordinances of the flesh, imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ, having come as a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands (that is, not of this creation),
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves but through his own blood, entered once for all into the holy places, obtaining eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctifies to the purity of the flesh;
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause he is mediator of a new covenant, in order that, death having taken place, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, they who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be brought in the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead; since it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.
18 Wherefore, neither has the first been dedicated without blood.
19 For, when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and of the goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying:
20 This is the blood of the covenant, which God enjoined in respect to you.
21 And moreover, the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the service, he in like manner sprinkled with blood.
22 And nearly all things are cleansed according to the law with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary, that the outlines of things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves, with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ entered not into holy places made with hands, figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 nor yet that he should many times offer himself, as the high priest enters into the holy places every year with blood of others;
26 for then must he many times have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once, in the end of the ages, he has been manifested for the putting away of sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And inasmuch as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment;
28 so also the Christ, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will to those who look for him appear a second time without sin, unto salvation.
1 FOR the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually, make those who come to them perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers would have had no more consciousness of sins, having once been cleansed?
3 But in them there is a remembrance of sins year by year.
4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore, when he comes into the world, he says: Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;
6 In whole burnt-offerings, and sacrifices for sin, thou hadst no pleasure.
7 Then said I: Lo, I come, In the volume of the book it is written of me, To do thy will, O God.
8 Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, nor hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law,
9 then has he said: Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 In which will we have been sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest indeed stands daily ministering, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;
12 but he, having offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God;
13 from henceforth expecting until his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
15 Moreover, the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us; for after he had said,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, putting my laws upon their hearts, and on their minds I will write them, [he further says,]
17 and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.
18 But where there is remission of these, there is no longer offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness as to the entrance into the holy places by the blood of Jesus, which [entrance] he instituted for us,
20 a new and living way, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh;
21 and having a great priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience; and having had our body washed with pure water,
23 let us hold fast the profession of the hope without wavering, for he is faithful who promised;
24 and let us consider one another, to incite to love and to good works;
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the custom of some, but exhorting, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we willingly sin, after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and a fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy, under two or three witnesses.
29 Of how much worse punishment, suppose ye, will he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has accounted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite to the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said: To me belongs vengeance; I will recompense, saith the Lord; and again: The Lord will judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great contest of sufferings;
33 partly, whilst ye were made a spectacle both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became partakers with those who were so used.
34 For ye sympathized with those in bonds, and ye took joyfully the plundering of your goods, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that having done the will of God ye may receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, he that is to come will come, and will not delay.
38 Now, the just shall live by faith; but if he draw back, my soul has no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of those who draw back unto perdition; but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For in this the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we perceive that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not arisen out of things which appear.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he received testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it, being dead, he yet speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him; for before his translation, he has had the testimony that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder to those who seek after him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham when called obeyed, to go forth into a place which he should afterward receive for an inheritance, and went forth, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise;
10 for he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive seed, even when she was past age, because she accounted him faithful who had promised.
12 Wherefore also there sprang from one, and him become as dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and greeted them, and professed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly, that they are seeking a country.
15 And if indeed, they had in mind that from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when tried, has offered up Isaac; and he who had accepted the promises offered up his only begotten,
18 of whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called;
19 accounting that God is able even to raise from the dead; whence he also received him back in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he worshiped, [leaning] on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when dying, made mention of the departure of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was fair; and they feared not the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called son of a daughter of Pharaoh;
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked for the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he has kept the passover, and the affusion of the blood, that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land; which the Egyptians attempting were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after they had been encompassed during seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who believed not, after having received the spies with peace.
32 And why say I more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak and Samson and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets;
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead, by resurrection to life; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 And others had trial of mockings, and scourgings, and, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword; they went about in sheep-skins and goats' skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the clefts of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise;
40 God having provided something better concerning us, that they should not without us be made perfect.
1 THEREFORE, let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding, us, lay aside every weight, and the easily besetting sin, and with patience run the race that is set before us,
2 looking away to the author and finisher of the faith, Jesus; who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction by sinners against him, that ye become not weary, fainting in your souls.
4 Not yet did ye resist unto blood, contending against sin;
5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation, which discourses with you as with sons: My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when reproved by him;
6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, And scourges every son whom he receives.
7 If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chastens not?
8 But if ye are without chastening, of which all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we had fathers of our flesh, who chastened us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now all chastening for the present indeed seems not joyous, but grievous; but afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness, to those who have been exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 and make straight paths for your feet, that the lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord;
15 looking diligently, lest any one come short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and the many be thereby defiled;
16 lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright.
17 For ye know that he also afterward, when he wished to inherit the blessing, was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought after it with tears.
18 For ye have not come to a mount that is touched, and burning with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19 and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they who heard refused that more should be spoken to them;
20 for they could not bear that which was commanded, Even if a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;
21 and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said: I fear, and tremble.
22 But ye have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just ones made perfect;
24 and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better than Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him who speaks; for if they did not escape, refusing him who declared the divine will on earth, much more shall not we, who turn away from him who speaks from heaven;
26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying: Yet once more I shake, not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this, Yet once more, signifies the removing of the things shaken, as of things that have been made, that the things which are not shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom which can not be shaken, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear;
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
1 LET brotherly love continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember those in bonds, as bound with them; those in adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your disposition be without covetousness, and be content with what ye have; for he has said: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we boldly say: The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear; What shall man do to me?
7 Remember those who were your leaders, who spoke to you the word of God; considering the end of whose manner of life, imitate their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is yesterday and to-day the same, and forever.
9 Be not carried away with various and strange teachings; for it is good that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which did not profit those who walked therein.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 So then, let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For here we have not an abiding city, but are seeking for that which is to come.
15 Through him, therefore, let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey those who are your leaders, and submit; for they watch for your souls, as those who shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with sighing, for that is unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us; for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to deport ourselves well.
19 But I the more earnestly beseech you to do this, that I may the sooner be restored to you.
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep in virtue of the blood of an eternal covenant,
21 make you perfect in every good work to do his will, doing in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
22 But I beseech you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation; for I wrote to you in few words.
23 Know that the brother, Timothy, has been set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
24 Salute all that are your leaders, and all the saints. Those of Italy salute you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.