Hebrews 12:18-13:25

New King James Version

The Glorious Company

¹⁸ For you have not come ^[a]to ^(A)the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and ^[b]darkness and tempest, ¹⁹ and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it ^(B)begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. ²⁰ (For they could not endure what was commanded: ^(C)“And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned ^[c]or shot with an arrow.” ²¹ And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ^(D)“I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, ²³ to the ^[d]general assembly and church of ^(E)the firstborn ^(F)who are registered in heaven, to God ^(G)the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men ^(H)made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus ^(I)the Mediator of the new covenant, and to ^(J)the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things ^(K)than that of Abel.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

²⁵ See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For ^(L)if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ^(M)“Yet once more I ^[e]shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” ²⁷ Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the ^(N)removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we ^[f]may ^(O)serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For ^(P)our God is a consuming fire.

Concluding Moral Directions

13 Let ^(Q)brotherly love continue. ^2 (R)Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing ^(S)some have unwittingly entertained angels. ^3 (T)Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

^4 (U)Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; ^(V)but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ^(W)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we may boldly say:

Concluding Religious Directions

⁷ Remember those who ^[g]rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. ⁸ Jesus Christ is ^(Y)the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried ^[h]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might ^[i]sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing ^(Z)His reproach. ¹⁴ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ^15 (AA)Therefore by Him let us continually offer ^(AB)the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(AC)the fruit of our lips, ^[j]giving thanks to His name. ^16 (AD)But do not forget to do good and to share, for ^(AE)with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

^17 (AF)Obey those who ^[k]rule over you, and be submissive, for ^(AG)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Prayer Requested

^18 (AH)Pray for us; for we are confident that we have ^(AI)a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell

²⁰ Now may ^(AJ)the God of peace ^(AK)who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, ^(AL)that great Shepherd of the sheep, ^(AM)through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you ^[l]complete in every good work to do His will, ^(AN)working in ^[m]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. ²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

²⁴ Greet all those who ^[n]rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.