Hebrews 11:29-12:22

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes

²⁹ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.^{(A) 30} By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.^{(B) 31} By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,^[a] because she had received the spies in peace.^(C)

³² And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,^{(D) 34} quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.^{(E) 35} Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.^{(F) 36} Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment.^{(G) 37} They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two;^[b] they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented^(H)— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.^(I)

³⁹ Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.^(J)

The Example of Jesus

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,^[c] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,^{(K) 2} looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of^[d] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.^(L)

³ Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,^[e] so that you may not grow weary in your souls or lose heart.^{(M) 4} In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—

⁷ Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children, for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?^{(P) 8} If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.^{(Q) 9} Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.^{(R) 11} Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.^(S)

¹² Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees^{(T) 13} and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.^(U)

Warnings against Rejecting God’s Grace

¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and through it many become defiled.^{(V) 16} See to it that no one becomes an immoral and godless person, as Esau was, who sold his birthright for a single meal.^{(W) 17} You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing^[f] with tears.^(X)

¹⁸ You have not come to something^[g] that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest,^{(Y) 19} and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.^{(Z) 20} (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.”^{(AA) 21} Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”)^{(AB) 22} But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,^(AC)