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Hebrews 1-13
New American Standard Bible
Hebrews 1-13
New American Standard Bible
God’s Final Word in His Son
1 God, after He (A)spoke long ago to the fathers in (B)the prophets in many portions and (C)in many ways, 2 [a](D)in these last days (E)has spoken to us [b]in His (F)Son, whom He appointed (G)heir of all things, (H)through whom He also made the [c](I)world. 3 [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact (J)representation of His nature, and [e](K)upholds all things by [f]the word of His power. When He had made (L)purification of sins, He (M)sat down at the right hand of the (N)Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent (O)name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“(P)You are My Son,
Today I have fathered You”?
And again,
“(Q)I will be a Father to Him
And He will be a Son to Me”?
6 And [g]when He again (R)brings the firstborn into [h](S)the world, He says,
“(T)And let all the angels of God worship Him.”
7 And regarding the angels He says,
“(U)He makes His angels winds,
And His ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But regarding the Son He says,
“(V)Your throne, God, is forever and ever,
And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of [i]His kingdom.
9 (W)You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
(X)Therefore God, Your God, has (Y)anointed You
With the oil of joy above Your companions.”
10 And,
“(Z)You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
11 (AA)They will perish, but You remain;
(AB)And they all will [j]wear out like a garment,
12 (AC)And like a robe You will roll them up;
Like a garment they will also be changed.
But You are (AD)the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.”
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said,
14 Are they not all (AG)ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will (AH)inherit (AI)salvation?
Pay Attention
2 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to [k]what we have heard, so that (AJ)we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word (AK)spoken through (AL)angels proved [l]unalterable, and (AM)every violation and act of disobedience received a just [m](AN)punishment, 3 (AO)how will we escape if we neglect so great a (AP)salvation? [n]After it was at first (AQ)spoken through the Lord, it was (AR)confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by (AS)signs and wonders, and by (AT)various [o]miracles and by [p](AU)gifts of the Holy Spirit (AV)according to His own will.
Earth Subject to Man
5 For He did not subject to angels [q](AW)the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But someone has testified (AX)somewhere, saying,
“(AY)What is man, that You think of him?
Or a son of man, that You are concerned about him?
7 (AZ)You have made him [r]for a little while lower than angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor[s];
8 (BA)You have put everything in subjection under his feet.”
For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now (BB)we do not yet see all things subjected to him.
Jesus Briefly Humbled
9 But we do see Him who was (BC)made [t]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, (BD)because of His suffering death (BE)crowned with glory and honor, so that (BF)by the grace of God He might (BG)taste death (BH)for everyone.
10 For (BI)it was fitting for Him, (BJ)for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to (BK)perfect the [u](BL)originator of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who (BM)sanctifies and those who (BN)are [v]sanctified are all (BO)from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them (BP)brothers and sisters, 12 saying,
“(BQ)I will proclaim Your name to My brothers,
In the midst of the assembly I will sing Your praise.”
13 And again,
“(BR)I will put My trust in Him.”
And again,
“(BS)Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”
14 Therefore, since the children share in [w](BT)flesh and blood, (BU)He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that (BV)through death He might destroy (BW)the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through (BX)fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For clearly He does not [x]give help to angels, but He gives help to the [y]descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He [z]had (BY)to be made like His brothers so that He might (BZ)become a merciful and faithful (CA)high priest in (CB)things pertaining to God, to (CC)make [aa]propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was [ab](CD)tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are [ac]tempted.
Jesus Our High Priest
3 Therefore, (CE)holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a (CF)heavenly calling, consider (CG)the Apostle and (CH)High Priest of our (CI)confession: Jesus; 2 [ad]He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as (CJ)Moses also was in all His house. 3 (CK)For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. 5 Now (CL)Moses was faithful in all [ae]God’s house as (CM)a servant, (CN)for a testimony of those things (CO)which were to be spoken later; 6 but Christ was faithful as (CP)a Son over His house—(CQ)whose house we are, (CR)if we hold firmly to our (CS)confidence and the boast of our [af](CT)hope.
7 Therefore, just as (CU)the Holy Spirit says,
“(CV)Today if you hear His voice,
8 (CW)Do not harden your hearts as [ag]when they provoked Me,
As on the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 (CX)Where your fathers put Me to the test,
And saw My works for (CY)forty years.
10 (CZ)Therefore I was angry with this generation,
And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
And they did not know My ways’;
11 (DA)As I swore in My anger,
‘They certainly shall not enter My rest.’”
The Danger of Unbelief
12 (DB)Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart [ah]that falls away from (DC)the living God. 13 But (DD)encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the (DE)deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ (DF)if we keep the beginning of our [ai](DG)commitment firm until the end, 15 while it is said,
16 For who (DI)provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, (DJ)did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, (DK)whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear (DL)that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were (DM)disobedient? 19 And so we see that they were not able to enter because of (DN)unbelief.
The Believer’s Rest
4 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have (DO)come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but (DP)the word [ak]they heard did not benefit them, because [al]they were not united with those who listened with faith. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“(DQ)As I swore in My anger,
They certainly shall not enter My rest,”
although His works were finished (DR)from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said (DS)somewhere concerning the seventh day: “(DT)And God (DU)rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this passage, “(DV)They certainly shall not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of (DW)disobedience, 7 He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying [am]through David after so long a time just (DX)as has been said before,
“(DY)Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
8 For (DZ)if [an]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also (EA)rested from his works, as (EB)God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same (EC)example of (ED)disobedience. 12 For (EE)the word of God is (EF)living and (EG)active, and sharper than any two-edged (EH)sword, even penetrating as far as the division of (EI)soul and (EJ)spirit, of both joints and marrow, and (EK)able to [ao]judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And (EL)there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are (EM)open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom [ap]we must answer.
14 Therefore, since we have a great (EN)high priest who has (EO)passed through the heavens, Jesus (EP)the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our (EQ)confession. 15 For we do not have (ER)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been (ES)tempted in all things just as we are, yet (ET)without sin. 16 Therefore let’s (EU)approach the throne of grace with (EV)confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
The Perfect High Priest
5 For every high priest (EW)taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in (EX)things pertaining to God, in order to (EY)offer both gifts and sacrifices (EZ)for sins; 2 [aq](FA)he can deal gently with the (FB)ignorant and (FC)misguided, since he himself also is [ar](FD)clothed in weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices (FE)for sins for himself, (FF)as well as for the people. 4 And (FG)no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just (FH)as Aaron also was.
5 So too Christ (FI)did not glorify Himself in becoming a (FJ)high priest, but it was He who (FK)said to Him,
“(FL)You are My Son,
Today I have fathered You”;
6 just as He also says in another passage,
7 In the days of [as]His humanity, [at](FO)He offered up both prayers and pleas with (FP)loud crying and tears to the One (FQ)able to save Him [au]from death, and He [av]was heard because of His (FR)devout behavior. 8 Although He was (FS)a Son, He learned (FT)obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been (FU)perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, 10 being designated by God as (FV)High Priest according to (FW)the order of Melchizedek.
11 Concerning [aw]him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become [ax]poor listeners. 12 For though [ay]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you (FX)the [az](FY)elementary principles of the (FZ)actual words of God, and you have come to need (GA)milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an (GB)infant. 14 But solid food is for (GC)the mature, who because of practice have their senses (GD)trained to (GE)distinguish between good and evil.
The Danger of Falling Away
6 Therefore (GF)leaving (GG)the [ba]elementary teaching about the [bb]Christ, let us press on to [bc](GH)maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from (GI)dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of (GJ)instruction about [bd]washings and (GK)laying on of hands, and about the (GL)resurrection of the dead and (GM)eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, (GN)if God permits. 4 For it is (GO)impossible, in the case of those who have once been (GP)enlightened and have tasted of (GQ)the heavenly gift and have been made (GR)partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and (GS)have tasted the good (GT)word of God and the powers of (GU)the age to come, 6 and then have [be]fallen away, to (GV)restore them again to repentance, [bf](GW)since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often [bg]falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those (GX)for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and [bh](GY)close to being cursed, and [bi]it ends up being burned.
Better Things for You
9 But, (GZ)beloved, we are convinced of better things regarding you, and things that [bj]accompany salvation, even though we are speaking in this way. 10 For (HA)God is not unjust so as to forget (HB)your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having (HC)served and by still serving the [bk]saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence [bl]so as to realize the (HD)full assurance of (HE)hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but (HF)imitators of those who through (HG)faith and endurance (HH)inherit the promises.
13 For (HI)when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear an oath by no one greater, He (HJ)swore by Himself, 14 saying, “(HK)indeed I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply you.” 15 And so, (HL)having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 (HM)For people swear an oath by [bm]one greater than themselves, and with them (HN)an oath serving as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 [bn]In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to (HO)the heirs of the promise [bo](HP)the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, [bp]confirmed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which (HQ)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to (HR)the hope set before us. 19 [bq]This (HS)hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which (HT)enters [br]within the veil, 20 (HU)where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a (HV)high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek’s Priesthood like Christ’s
7 For this (HW)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the (HX)Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, (HY)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like (HZ)the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the (IA)patriarch, (IB)gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of (IC)the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment [bs]in the Law to collect [bt]a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they [bu]are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one (ID)whose genealogy is not traced from them (IE)collected [bv]a tenth from Abraham and [bw](IF)blessed the one who (IG)had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, (IH)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his [bx]forefather when Melchizedek met him.
11 (II)So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it (IJ)the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise (IK)according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For (IL)the one about whom (IM)these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord [by]was (IN)descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of [bz](IO)physical requirement, but according to the power of (IP)an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him,
“(IQ)You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment (IR)because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for (IS)the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better (IT)hope, through which we (IU)come near to God. 20 And to the extent that it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
22 by the same extent Jesus also has become the [ca](IY)guarantee of (IZ)a better covenant.
23 [cb]The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; 24 [cc]Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues (JA)forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is also able to (JB)save [cd]forever those who (JC)come to God through Him, since He always lives to (JD)make intercession for them.
26 For it was fitting for us to have such a (JE)high priest, (JF)holy, (JG)innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and (JH)exalted above the heavens; 27 who has no daily need, like those high priests, to (JI)offer up sacrifices, (JJ)first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this (JK)once for all time when He (JL)offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests (JM)who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints (JN)a Son, who has been (JO)made perfect forever.
A Better Ministry
8 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a (JP)high priest, who has taken His seat at (JQ)the right hand of the throne of the (JR)Majesty in the heavens, 2 a (JS)minister [ce]in the sanctuary and [cf]in the (JT)true [cg]tabernacle, which the Lord (JU)set up, not man. 3 For every (JV)high priest is appointed (JW)to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are [ch]those who (JX)offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve (JY)a copy and (JZ)shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses [ci]was (KA)warned by God when he was about to erect the [cj]tabernacle; for, “(KB)See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the (KC)mediator of (KD)a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
A New Covenant
7 For (KE)if that first covenant had been free of fault, no [ck]circumstances would have been sought for a second. 8 For in finding fault with [cl]the people, He says,
“(KF)Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,
[cm]When I will bring about (KG)a new covenant
With the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
9 (KH)Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
On the day I took them by the hand
To bring them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care about them, says the Lord.
10 (KI)For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, declares the Lord:
[cn]I will put My laws into their minds,
And write them (KJ)on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 (KK)And they will not teach, each one his fellow citizen,
And each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For (KL)they will all know Me,
From [co]the least to the greatest of them.
12 (KM)For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings,
(KN)And their sins I will no longer remember.”
13 [cp]When He said, “(KO)A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. (KP)But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is [cq]about to disappear.
The Old and the New
9 Now even the first covenant had (KQ)regulations for divine worship and (KR)the earthly sanctuary. 2 For (KS)a [cr]tabernacle was equipped, the [cs]outer sanctuary, in which were (KT)the lampstand, (KU)the table, and (KV)the [ct]sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind (KW)the second veil there was a [cu]tabernacle which is called the (KX)Most Holy Place, 4 having a golden [cv](KY)altar of incense and (KZ)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was (LA)a golden jar holding the manna, (LB)Aaron’s staff which budded, and (LC)the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the (LD)cherubim of glory (LE)overshadowing the [cw]atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests (LF)are continually entering the [cx]outer [cy]tabernacle, performing the divine worship, 7 but into (LG)the second, only (LH)the high priest enters (LI)once a year, (LJ)not without taking blood which he (LK)offers for himself and for the [cz](LL)sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 (LM)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, (LN)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the [da]outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly (LO)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which (LP)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to (LQ)food, (LR)drink, and various (LS)washings, (LT)regulations for the [db]body imposed until (LU)a time of reformation.
11 But when Christ appeared as a (LV)high priest of the (LW)good things [dc]having come, He entered through (LX)the greater and more perfect [dd]tabernacle, (LY)not made by hands, that is, (LZ)not of this creation; 12 and not through (MA)the blood of goats and calves, but (MB)through His own blood, He (MC)entered the holy place (MD)once for all time, [de]having obtained (ME)eternal redemption. 13 For if (MF)the blood of goats and bulls, and (MG)the [df]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the [dg]cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will (MH)the blood of Christ, who through [dh](MI)the eternal Spirit (MJ)offered Himself without blemish to God, (MK)cleanse your conscience from (ML)dead works to serve (MM)the living God?
15 For this reason (MN)He is the (MO)mediator of a (MP)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been (MQ)called may (MR)receive the promise of (MS)the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a [di]covenant, there must of necessity [dj]be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a [dk]covenant is valid only when people are dead, [dl]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been (MT)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, (MU)he took the (MV)blood of the calves and the goats, with (MW)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both (MX)the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “(MY)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he (MZ)sprinkled both the [dm]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And (NA)almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and (NB)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 Therefore it was necessary for the (NC)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but (ND)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ (NE)did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of (NF)the true one, but into (NG)heaven itself, now (NH)to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as (NI)the high priest enters (NJ)the Holy Place (NK)year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since (NL)the foundation of the world; but now (NM)once at (NN)the consummation of the ages He has been (NO)revealed to put away sin [dn](NP)by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as (NQ)it is destined for people to die once, and after this (NR)comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been (NS)offered once to (NT)bear the sins of many, will appear (NU)a second time for (NV)salvation (NW)without reference to sin, to those who (NX)eagerly await Him.
One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient
10 For the Law, since it has only (NY)a shadow of (NZ)the good things to come and not the [do]form of those things itself, [dp]can (OA)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, (OB)make those who approach perfect. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had (OC)consciousness of sins? 3 But (OD)in [dq]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is (OE)impossible for the (OF)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, (OG)when He comes into the world, He says,
“(OH)You have not desired sacrifice and offering,
But (OI)You have prepared a body for Me;
6 (OJ)You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.
7 (OK)Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(It is written of Me in (OL)the scroll of the book)
To do Your will, O God.’”
8 After saying above, “(OM)Sacrifices and offerings and (ON)whole burnt offerings and offerings (OO)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He [dr]said, “(OP)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By [ds]this will, we have been (OQ)sanctified through (OR)the offering of (OS)the body of Jesus Christ (OT)once for all time.
11 Every priest stands daily ministering and (OU)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which (OV)can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice (OW)for [dt]sins (OX)for all time, (OY)sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward (OZ)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has (PA)perfected (PB)for all time those who are [du]sanctified. 15 And (PC)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
16 “(PD)This is the covenant which I will make with them
After those days, declares the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their hearts,
And write them on their mind,”
He then says,
17 “(PE)And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will no longer remember.”
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.
A New and Living Way
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we (PF)have confidence to (PG)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (PH)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through (PI)the veil, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have (PJ)a great priest (PK)over the house of God, 22 let’s (PL)approach God with a [dv]sincere heart in (PM)full assurance of faith, having our hearts (PN)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies (PO)washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the (PP)confession of our (PQ)hope without wavering, for (PR)He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how (PS)to [dw]encourage one another in love and (PT)good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own (PU)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but (PV)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see (PW)the day drawing near.
Christ or Judgment
26 For if we go on (PX)sinning willfully after receiving (PY)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of (PZ)judgment and (QA)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 (QB)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 (QC)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve (QD)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean (QE)the blood of the covenant (QF)by which he was sanctified, and has (QG)insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “(QH)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “(QI)The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a (QJ)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the (QK)living God.
32 But remember (QL)the former days, [dx]when, after being (QM)enlightened, you endured a great (QN)conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being (QO)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming [dy](QP)companions with those who were so treated. 34 For you (QQ)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted (QR)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves (QS)a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your (QT)confidence, which has a great (QU)reward. 36 For you have need of (QV)endurance, so that when you have (QW)done the will of God, you may (QX)receive [dz]what was promised.
37 (QY)For yet in a very little while,
(QZ)He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 (RA)But My righteous one will live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
39 But [ea]we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.
The Triumphs of Faith
11 Now faith is the (RB)certainty of things [eb](RC)hoped for, a [ec]proof of (RD)things not seen. 2 For by it the (RE)people of old [ed](RF)gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the [ee](RG)world has been created (RH)by the word of God so that what is seen (RI)has not been made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith (RJ)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was (RK)attested to be righteous, God testifying [ef]about his (RL)gifts, and through [eg]faith, though (RM)he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith (RN)Enoch was taken up so that he would not (RO)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who (RP)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. 7 By faith (RQ)Noah, being (RR)warned by God about (RS)things not yet seen, [eh](RT)in reverence (RU)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of (RV)the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith (RW)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [ei]by going out to a place which he was to (RX)receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as a stranger in (RY)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, (RZ)living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, (SA)fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for (SB)the city which has (SC)foundations, (SD)whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even (SE)Sarah herself received [ej]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him (SF)faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore even from one man, and (SG)one who was as good as dead [ek]at that, there were born descendants who were (SH)just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.
13 (SI)All these died in faith, (SJ)without receiving the promises, but (SK)having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and (SL)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been [el]thinking of that country which they left, (SM)they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a (SN)heavenly one. Therefore (SO)God is not [em]ashamed to be (SP)called their God; for (SQ)He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith (SR)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had (SS)received the promises was offering up his [en]only son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “(ST)Through Isaac your [eo]descendants shall be named.” 19 [ep]He considered that (SU)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back [eq]as a [er](SV)type. 20 By faith (SW)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21 By faith (SX)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and (SY)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith (SZ)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
23 By faith (TA)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the (TB)king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, (TC)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to (TD)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 26 (TE)considering the [es]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the (TF)reward. 27 By faith he (TG)left Egypt, not (TH)fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though (TI)seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he [et](TJ)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that (TK)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they (TL)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were [eu]drowned.
30 By faith (TM)the walls of Jericho fell down [ev](TN)after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute (TO)Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies [ew]in peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of (TP)Gideon, (TQ)Barak, (TR)Samson, (TS)Jephthah, of (TT)David and (TU)Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith (TV)conquered kingdoms, (TW)performed acts of righteousness, (TX)obtained promises, (TY)shut the mouths of lions, 34 (TZ)quenched the power of fire, (UA)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, (UB)became mighty in war, (UC)put foreign armies to flight. 35 (UD)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their [ex]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others [ey]experienced mocking and flogging, and further, (UE)chains and imprisonment. 37 They were (UF)stoned, they were sawn in two, [ez]they were tempted, they were (UG)put to death with the sword; they went about (UH)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, (UI)tormented 38 (people of whom the world was not worthy), (UJ)wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes [fa]in the ground.
39 And all these, having (UK)gained approval through their faith, (UL)did not receive [fb]what was promised, 40 because God had [fc]provided (UM)something better for us, so that (UN)apart from us they would not be made perfect.
Jesus, the Example
12 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s (UO)rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s (UP)run with (UQ)endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the [fd](UR)originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him (US)endured the cross, (UT)despising the shame, and has (UU)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For (UV)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary [fe](UW)and lose heart.
A Father’s Discipline
4 (UX)You have not yet resisted [ff](UY)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“(UZ)My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor (VA)faint when you are punished by Him;
6 (VB)For (VC)whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He punishes every son whom He accepts.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; (VD)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, (VE)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had [fg]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we (VF)respected them; shall we not much more be subject to (VG)the Father of [fh]spirits, and (VH)live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, (VI)so that we may share His holiness. 11 (VJ)For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the (VK)peaceful fruit of righteousness.
12 Therefore, [fi](VL)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and (VM)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather (VN)be healed.
14 (VO)Pursue peace with all people, and the (VP)holiness without which no one will (VQ)see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one (VR)comes short of the grace of God; that no (VS)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become (VT)defiled; 16 that there be no (VU)sexually immoral or (VV)godless person like Esau, (VW)who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterward, (VX)when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Contrast of Sinai and Zion
18 (VY)For you have not come to (VZ)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the (WA)blast of a trumpet and the (WB)sound of words, which sound was such that those who heard (WC)begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not [fj]cope with the command, “(WD)If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “(WE)I am terrified and trembling.” 22 But (WF)you have come to Mount Zion and to (WG)the city of (WH)the living God, (WI)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to (WJ)myriads of [fk]angels, 23 to the general assembly and (WK)church of the firstborn who (WL)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, (WM)the Judge of all, and to the (WN)spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the (WO)mediator of a new covenant, and to the (WP)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than (WQ)the blood of Abel.
The Unshaken Kingdom
25 (WR)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is (WS)speaking. For (WT)if those did not escape when they (WU)refused him who (WV)warned them on earth, [fl]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who (WW)warns us from heaven. 26 And (WX)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “(WY)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes (WZ)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a (XA)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s [fm]show gratitude, by which we may (XB)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for (XC)our God is a consuming fire.
The Changeless Christ
13 Let (XD)love of the brothers and sisters continue. 2 Do not neglect (XE)hospitality to strangers, for by this some have (XF)entertained angels without knowing it. 3 (XG)Remember (XH)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 (XI)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; (XJ)for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5 Make sure that your character is (XK)free from the love of money, (XL)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “(XM)I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“(XN)The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”
7 Remember (XO)those who led you, who spoke (XP)the word of God to you; and considering the [fn]result of their way of life, (XQ)imitate their faith. 8 (XR)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. 9 (XS)Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to (XT)be strengthened by grace, not by (XU)foods, (XV)through which those who [fo]were so occupied were not benefited. 10 We have an altar (XW)from which those (XX)who serve the [fp]tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For (XY)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 the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered (XZ)outside the gate, (YA)that He might sanctify the people (YB)through His own blood. 13 So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, (YC)bearing His reproach. 14 For here (YD)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking (YE)the city which is to come.
God-pleasing Sacrifices
15 (YF)Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a (YG)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (YH)the fruit of lips praising His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and (YI)sharing, for (YJ)with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 (YK)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for (YL)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not [fq]groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.
18 (YM)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a (YN)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, (YO)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.
Benediction
20 Now may (YP)the God of peace, who (YQ)brought up from the dead the (YR)great Shepherd of the sheep [fr]through (YS)the blood of the (YT)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, 21 (YU)equip you in every good thing to do His will, (YV)working in us that (YW)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, (YX)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 But (YY)I urge you, (YZ)brothers and sisters, [fs]listen patiently to [ft]this (ZA)word of exhortation, for (ZB)I have written to you briefly. 23 Know that (ZC)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet (ZD)all of your leaders and all the [fu](ZE)saints. Those from (ZF)Italy greet you.
25 (ZG)Grace be with you all.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 1:2 Or at the end of these days
- Hebrews 1:2 Or in the person of a Son; lit in Son
- Hebrews 1:2 Lit ages
- Hebrews 1:3 Lit Who being
- Hebrews 1:3 Lit upholding
- Hebrews 1:3 Or His word of power
- Hebrews 1:6 Or again when He brings
- Hebrews 1:6 Lit the inhabited earth
- Hebrews 1:8 Late mss Your
- Hebrews 1:11 Or become old
- Hebrews 2:1 Lit the things that have been heard
- Hebrews 2:2 Or steadfast
- Hebrews 2:2 Lit retribution
- Hebrews 2:3 Lit Which was
- Hebrews 2:4 Or works of power
- Hebrews 2:4 Lit distributions
- Hebrews 2:5 Lit the inhabited earth
- Hebrews 2:7 Or ...him a little lower than...
- Hebrews 2:7 One early ms continues, and have appointed him over the works of Your hands
- Hebrews 2:9 Or a little lower
- Hebrews 2:10 Or leader
- Hebrews 2:11 Or being sanctified
- Hebrews 2:14 Lit blood and flesh
- Hebrews 2:16 Lit take hold of angels, but He takes hold of
- Hebrews 2:16 Lit seed
- Hebrews 2:17 Lit was obligated to be
- Hebrews 2:17 I.e., reconciliation with God by atoning for the sins
- Hebrews 2:18 Or tested
- Hebrews 2:18 Or tested
- Hebrews 3:2 Lit being faithful
- Hebrews 3:5 Lit His
- Hebrews 3:6 One early ms adds firm until the end
- Hebrews 3:8 Lit in the provocation
- Hebrews 3:12 Or that leaves the; lit in falling away from
- Hebrews 3:14 Or assurance
- Hebrews 3:15 Lit in the rebellion
- Hebrews 4:2 Lit of hearing
- Hebrews 4:2 One early ms it was not united with faith in those who heard
- Hebrews 4:7 Or in
- Hebrews 4:8 Gr Jesus
- Hebrews 4:12 Or discern
- Hebrews 4:13 Lit is our word
- Hebrews 5:2 Lit being able to
- Hebrews 5:2 I.e., weak by nature
- Hebrews 5:7 Lit His flesh
- Hebrews 5:7 Lit who having offered up
- Hebrews 5:7 Or out of
- Hebrews 5:7 Lit having been heard
- Hebrews 5:11 Lit whom; or which
- Hebrews 5:11 Lit sluggish in hearing
- Hebrews 5:12 Lit because of the time
- Hebrews 5:12 Lit elements of the beginning
- Hebrews 6:1 Lit word of the beginning
- Hebrews 6:1 I.e., Messiah
- Hebrews 6:1 Or perfection
- Hebrews 6:2 Or baptisms
- Hebrews 6:6 Or committed apostasy; i.e., renounced the faith
- Hebrews 6:6 Or while
- Hebrews 6:7 Lit comes
- Hebrews 6:8 Lit near to a curse
- Hebrews 6:8 Lit whose end is for burning
- Hebrews 6:9 Or belong to
- Hebrews 6:10 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- Hebrews 6:11 Lit to the full
- Hebrews 6:16 Or Him who is greater
- Hebrews 6:17 Lit In which
- Hebrews 6:17 Lit the unchangeableness of His
- Hebrews 6:17 Or mediated
- Hebrews 6:19 Lit Which hope we have
- Hebrews 6:19 Or inside
- Hebrews 7:5 Lit according to
- Hebrews 7:5 Or tithes
- Hebrews 7:5 Lit have come out of the loins of
- Hebrews 7:6 Or tithes
- Hebrews 7:6 Lit has blessed
- Hebrews 7:10 Lit father
- Hebrews 7:14 Lit has arisen from
- Hebrews 7:16 Lit fleshly commandment; i.e., to be a descendant of Levi
- Hebrews 7:22 Or guarantor
- Hebrews 7:23 Lit The greater number have become priests...
- Hebrews 7:24 Lit He
- Hebrews 7:25 Or completely
- Hebrews 8:2 Or of
- Hebrews 8:2 Or of
- Hebrews 8:2 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 8:4 I.e., temple priests
- Hebrews 8:5 Lit has been
- Hebrews 8:5 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 8:7 Lit place
- Hebrews 8:8 Lit them
- Hebrews 8:8 Lit And
- Hebrews 8:10 Lit Putting my laws into...
- Hebrews 8:11 Lit small to great of them
- Hebrews 8:13 Or In His saying
- Hebrews 8:13 Or near destruction
- Hebrews 9:2 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:2 Lit first
- Hebrews 9:2 Lit loaves of presentation
- Hebrews 9:3 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:4 Or censer
- Hebrews 9:5 Also called mercy seat; i.e., where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement
- Hebrews 9:6 Lit first
- Hebrews 9:6 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:7 Lit ignorance of the people
- Hebrews 9:8 Lit first
- Hebrews 9:10 Lit flesh
- Hebrews 9:11 One early ms to come
- Hebrews 9:11 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:12 Or obtaining
- Hebrews 9:13 I.e., ashes mixed in water
- Hebrews 9:13 Lit purity
- Hebrews 9:14 Or His eternal spirit
- Hebrews 9:16 Or testament
- Hebrews 9:16 Lit be brought
- Hebrews 9:17 Or testament
- Hebrews 9:17 One early ms for is it then...lives?
- Hebrews 9:21 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 9:26 Or by His sacrifice
- Hebrews 10:1 Lit image
- Hebrews 10:1 One early ms they can
- Hebrews 10:3 Lit them there is
- Hebrews 10:9 Lit has said
- Hebrews 10:10 Lit which
- Hebrews 10:12 Or sins, forever sat down
- Hebrews 10:14 Or being sanctified
- Hebrews 10:22 Lit true
- Hebrews 10:24 Or stir up
- Hebrews 10:32 Lit in which
- Hebrews 10:33 Or partners
- Hebrews 10:36 Lit the promise
- Hebrews 10:39 Lit we are not of shrinking back...but of faith
- Hebrews 11:1 Or expected
- Hebrews 11:1 Or conviction about
- Hebrews 11:2 Lit obtained a good testimony
- Hebrews 11:3 Or worlds were; lit ages
- Hebrews 11:4 I.e., by receiving his gifts
- Hebrews 11:4 Lit it
- Hebrews 11:7 Or was reverent and prepared
- Hebrews 11:8 Lit to go out
- Hebrews 11:11 Lit power for the laying down of seed
- Hebrews 11:12 Lit in these things
- Hebrews 11:15 Or remembering
- Hebrews 11:16 Lit ashamed of them, to be
- Hebrews 11:17 I.e., only son with Sarah
- Hebrews 11:18 Lit seed
- Hebrews 11:19 Lit Considering
- Hebrews 11:19 Lit in
- Hebrews 11:19 I.e., of resurrection, figuratively, pointing to the future
- Hebrews 11:26 I.e., insults like those later suffered by Christ
- Hebrews 11:28 Lit has kept
- Hebrews 11:29 Lit swallowed up
- Hebrews 11:30 Lit after they had been encircled for
- Hebrews 11:31 Lit with
- Hebrews 11:35 Lit redemption
- Hebrews 11:36 Lit received the trial of
- Hebrews 11:37 One early ms does not contain they were tempted
- Hebrews 11:38 Lit of
- Hebrews 11:39 Lit the promise
- Hebrews 11:40 Or foreseen
- Hebrews 12:2 Or leader
- Hebrews 12:3 Lit fainting in your souls
- Hebrews 12:4 Lit as far as blood
- Hebrews 12:9 Lit fathers of our flesh
- Hebrews 12:9 Or our spirits
- Hebrews 12:12 Lit make straight
- Hebrews 12:20 Lit bear
- Hebrews 12:22 Or angels in festive gathering, and to the church
- Hebrews 12:25 Lit much rather we will not escape...
- Hebrews 12:28 Lit have
- Hebrews 13:7 Or end of their life
- Hebrews 13:9 Lit walked
- Hebrews 13:10 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 13:17 Or sighing
- Hebrews 13:20 Lit in
- Hebrews 13:22 Or listen to
- Hebrews 13:22 Lit the
- Hebrews 13:24 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
Hebrews 1-12
New International Version
Hebrews 1-12
New International Version
God’s Final Word: His Son
1 In the past God spoke(A) to our ancestors through the prophets(B) at many times and in various ways,(C) 2 but in these last days(D) he has spoken to us by his Son,(E) whom he appointed heir(F) of all things, and through whom(G) also he made the universe.(H) 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory(I) and the exact representation of his being,(J) sustaining all things(K) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,(L) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.(M) 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.(N)
The Son Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
Or again,
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn(Q) into the world,(R) he says,
7 In speaking of the angels he says,
8 But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;(U)
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions(V)
by anointing you with the oil(W) of joy.”[e](X)
10 He also says,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.(Y)
11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.(Z)
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,(AA)
and your years will never end.”[f](AB)
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits(AF) sent to serve those who will inherit(AG) salvation?(AH)
Warning to Pay Attention
2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(AI) 2 For since the message spoken(AJ) through angels(AK) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,(AL) 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?(AM) This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,(AN) was confirmed to us by those who heard him.(AO) 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,(AP) and by gifts of the Holy Spirit(AQ) distributed according to his will.(AR)
Jesus Made Fully Human
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone(AS) has testified:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?(AT)
7 You made them a little[h] lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
8 and put everything under their feet.”[i][j](AU)
In putting everything under them,[k] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[l] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[m] 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor(AV) because he suffered death,(AW) so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.(AX)
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,(AY) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.(AZ) 11 Both the one who makes people holy(BA) and those who are made holy(BB) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[n](BC) 12 He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[o](BD)
13 And again,
And again he says,
14 Since the children have flesh and blood,(BG) he too shared in their humanity(BH) so that by his death he might break the power(BI) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil(BJ)— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear(BK) of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.(BL) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[r](BM) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful(BN) and faithful high priest(BO) in service to God,(BP) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.(BQ) 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.(BR)
Jesus Greater Than Moses
3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,(BS) who share in the heavenly calling,(BT) fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge(BU) as our apostle and high priest.(BV) 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.(BW) 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses,(BX) just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.(BY) 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant(BZ) in all God’s house,”[s](CA) bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son(CB) over God’s house. And we are his house,(CC) if indeed we hold firmly(CD) to our confidence and the hope(CE) in which we glory.
Warning Against Unbelief
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:(CF)
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts(CG)
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,
though for forty years they saw what I did.(CH)
10 That is why I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.’
11 So I declared on oath in my anger,(CI)
‘They shall never enter my rest.’ (CJ)”[t](CK)
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.(CL) 13 But encourage one another daily,(CM) as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.(CN) 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold(CO) our original conviction firmly to the very end.(CP) 15 As has just been said:
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?(CR) 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?(CS) 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest(CT) if not to those who disobeyed?(CU) 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.(CV)
A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God
4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.(CW) 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[v](CX) 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[x](CZ) 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”(DA)
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,(DB) 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
8 For if Joshua had given them rest,(DD) God would not have spoken(DE) later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[z](DF) just as God did from his.(DG) 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.(DH)
12 For the word of God(DI) is alive(DJ) and active.(DK) Sharper than any double-edged sword,(DL) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(DM) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.(DN) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest(DO) who has ascended into heaven,[aa](DP) Jesus the Son of God,(DQ) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.(DR) 15 For we do not have a high priest(DS) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are(DT)—yet he did not sin.(DU) 16 Let us then approach(DV) God’s throne of grace with confidence,(DW) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,(DX) to offer gifts and sacrifices(DY) for sins.(DZ) 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,(EA) since he himself is subject to weakness.(EB) 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.(EC) 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.(ED)
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory(EE) of becoming a high priest.(EF) But God said(EG) to him,
6 And he says in another place,
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(EK) with fervent cries and tears(EL) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(EM) because of his reverent submission.(EN) 8 Son(EO) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered(EP) 9 and, once made perfect,(EQ) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest(ER) in the order of Melchizedek.(ES)
Warning Against Falling Away(ET)
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(EU) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(EV) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(EW) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(EX) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(EY)
6 Therefore let us move beyond(EZ) the elementary teachings(FA) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[ad](FB) and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[ae](FC) the laying on of hands,(FD) the resurrection of the dead,(FE) and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting,(FF) we will do so.
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,(FG) who have tasted the heavenly gift,(FH) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,(FI) 5 who have tasted the goodness(FJ) of the word of God(FK) and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[af] away, to be brought back to repentance.(FL) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God(FM) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.(FN) In the end it will be burned.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends,(FO) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.(FP) 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope(FQ) for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate(FR) those who through faith and patience(FS) inherit what has been promised.(FT)
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,(FU) 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[ag](FV) 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.(FW)
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.(FX) 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging(FY) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,(FZ) he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,(GA) we who have fled to take hold of the hope(GB) set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,(GC) 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.(GD) He has become a high priest(GE) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.(GF)
Melchizedek the Priest
7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem(GG) and priest of God Most High.(GH) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,(GI) 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy,(GJ) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,(GK) he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch(GL) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!(GM) 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people(GN)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed(GO) him who had the promises.(GP) 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.(GQ) 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people(GR) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,(GS) one in the order of Melchizedek,(GT) not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,(GU) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.(GV) 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,(GW) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless(GY) 19 (for the law made nothing perfect),(GZ) and a better hope(HA) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.(HB)
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.(HE)
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.(HF) 25 Therefore he is able to save(HG) completely[aj] those who come to God(HH) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.(HI)
26 Such a high priest(HJ) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,(HK) exalted above the heavens.(HL) 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices(HM) day after day, first for his own sins,(HN) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all(HO) when he offered himself.(HP) 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;(HQ) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,(HR) who has been made perfect(HS) forever.
The High Priest of a New Covenant
8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,(HT) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,(HU) 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle(HV) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
3 Every high priest(HW) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,(HX) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.(HY) 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.(HZ) 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy(IA) and shadow(IB) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned(IC) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[ak](ID) 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant(IE) of which he is mediator(IF) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.(IG) 8 But God found fault with the people and said[al]:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant(IH)
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors(II)
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant(IJ) I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.(IK)
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.(IL)
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,(IM)
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.(IN)”[am](IO)
13 By calling this covenant “new,”(IP) he has made the first one obsolete;(IQ) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.(IR) 2 A tabernacle(IS) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand(IT) and the table(IU) with its consecrated bread;(IV) this was called the Holy Place.(IW) 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,(IX) 4 which had the golden altar of incense(IY) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.(IZ) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,(JA) Aaron’s staff that had budded,(JB) and the stone tablets of the covenant.(JC) 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,(JD) overshadowing the atonement cover.(JE) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly(JF) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered(JG) the inner room,(JH) and that only once a year,(JI) and never without blood,(JJ) which he offered for himself(JK) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.(JL) 8 The Holy Spirit was showing(JM) by this that the way(JN) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration(JO) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered(JP) were not able to clear the conscience(JQ) of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food(JR) and drink(JS) and various ceremonial washings(JT)—external regulations(JU) applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest(JV) of the good things that are now already here,[an](JW) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle(JX) that is not made with human hands,(JY) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;(JZ) but he entered the Most Holy Place(KA) once for all(KB) by his own blood,(KC) thus obtaining[ao] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls(KD) and the ashes of a heifer(KE) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit(KF) offered himself(KG) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences(KH) from acts that lead to death,[ap](KI) so that we may serve the living God!(KJ)
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator(KK) of a new covenant,(KL) that those who are called(KM) may receive the promised(KN) eternal inheritance(KO)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.(KP)
16 In the case of a will,[aq] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.(KQ) 19 When Moses had proclaimed(KR) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,(KS) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.(KT) 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[ar](KU) 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,(KV) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(KW)
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies(KX) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;(KY) he entered heaven itself,(KZ) now to appear for us in God’s presence.(LA) 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place(LB) every year with blood that is not his own.(LC) 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.(LD) But he has appeared(LE) once for all(LF) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.(LG) 27 Just as people are destined to die once,(LH) and after that to face judgment,(LI) 28 so Christ was sacrificed once(LJ) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,(LK) not to bear sin,(LL) but to bring salvation(LM) to those who are waiting for him.(LN)
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The law is only a shadow(LO) of the good things(LP) that are coming—not the realities themselves.(LQ) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect(LR) those who draw near to worship.(LS) 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.(LT) 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.(LU) 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats(LV) to take away sins.(LW)
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world,(LX) he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;(LY)
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll(LZ)—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[as](MA)
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”(MB)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”(MC) He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy(MD) through the sacrifice of the body(ME) of Jesus Christ once for all.(MF)
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,(MG) which can never take away sins.(MH) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(MI) he sat down at the right hand of God,(MJ) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(MK) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(ML) forever those who are being made holy.(MM)
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies(MN) to us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[at](MO)
17 Then he adds:
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(MQ) to enter the Most Holy Place(MR) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(MS) opened for us through the curtain,(MT) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(MU) over the house of God,(MV) 22 let us draw near to God(MW) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(MX) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(MY) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(MZ) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(NA) we profess,(NB) for he who promised is faithful.(NC) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(ND) 25 not giving up meeting together,(NE) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(NF)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(NG)
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(NH) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(NI) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(NJ) that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(NK) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(NL) underfoot,(NM) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(NN) that sanctified them,(NO) and who has insulted the Spirit(NP) of grace?(NQ) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[av](NR) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[aw](NS) 31 It is a dreadful thing(NT) to fall into the hands(NU) of the living God.(NV)
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,(NW) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.(NX) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(NY) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(NZ) 34 You suffered along with those in prison(OA) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.(OB) 35 So do not throw away your confidence;(OC) it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere(OD) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(OE) 37 For,
38 And,
“But my righteous[ay] one will live by faith.(OH)
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”[az](OI)
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(OJ) and assurance about what we do not see.(OK) 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.(OL)
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(OM) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(ON) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(OO) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(OP)
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[ba](OQ) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(OR) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(OS) in holy fear built an ark(OT) to save his family.(OU) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(OV)
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(OW) obeyed and went,(OX) even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land(OY) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,(OZ) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(PA) 10 For he was looking forward to the city(PB) with foundations,(PC) whose architect and builder is God.(PD) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(PE) was enabled to bear children(PF) because she[bb] considered him faithful(PG) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(PH) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(PI)
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(PJ) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(PK) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(PL) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.(PM) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(PN) Therefore God is not ashamed(PO) to be called their God,(PP) for he has prepared a city(PQ) for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(PR) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[bc](PS) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(PT) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(PU)
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,(PV) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.(PW)
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,(PX) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(PY)
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.(PZ) 25 He chose to be mistreated(QA) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace(QB) for the sake of Christ(QC) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.(QD) 27 By faith he left Egypt,(QE) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer(QF) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.(QG)
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.(QH)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.(QI)
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[bd](QJ)
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(QK) Barak,(QL) Samson(QM) and Jephthah,(QN) about David(QO) and Samuel(QP) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(QQ) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(QR) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(QS) and escaped the edge of the sword;(QT) whose weakness was turned to strength;(QU) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(QV) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(QW) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(QX) and even chains and imprisonment.(QY) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[be](QZ) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(RA) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(RB) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(RC) and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended(RD) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(RE) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(RF) would they be made perfect.(RG)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(RH) with perseverance(RI) the race marked out for us,
Footnotes
- Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7
- Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13
- Hebrews 1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)
- Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4
- Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7
- Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:25-27
- Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1
- Hebrews 2:7 Or them for a little while
- Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:4-6
- Hebrews 2:8 Or 7 You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ 8 and put everything under his feet.”
- Hebrews 2:8 Or him
- Hebrews 2:8 Or him
- Hebrews 2:8 Or him
- Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.
- Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22
- Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17
- Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18
- Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers
- Hebrews 3:5 Num. 12:7
- Hebrews 3:11 Psalm 95:7-11
- Hebrews 3:15 Psalm 95:7,8
- Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
- Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
- Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
- Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
- Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
- Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens
- Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7
- Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
- Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
- Hebrews 6:6 Or age, 6 if they fall
- Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17
- Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
- Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40
- Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
- Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34
- Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
- Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
- Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
- Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
- Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8
- Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
- Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
- Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34
- Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
- Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
- Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
- Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
- Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)
- Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
- Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
- Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
- Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
- Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;
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