Hebrews 12:14-13:20

English Standard Version

^14 (A)Strive for peace with everyone, and for the ^(B)holiness ^(C)without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(D)fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ^(E)“root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶ that no one is ^(F)sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that ^(G)afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

¹⁸ For you have not come to ^(H)what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest ¹⁹ and ^(I)the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words ^(J)made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not endure the order that was given, ^(K)“If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” ²¹ Indeed, ^(L)so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” ²² But you have come to ^(M)Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, ^(N)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(O)innumerable angels in festal gathering, ²³ and to ^(P)the assembly^[a] of the firstborn who are ^(Q)enrolled in heaven, and to ^(R)God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, ^(S)the mediator of a new covenant, and to ^(T)the sprinkled blood ^(U)that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

²⁵ See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For ^(V)if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. ²⁶ At that time ^(W)his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ^(X)“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷ This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates ^(Y)the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore let us be grateful for receiving ^(Z)a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus ^(AA)let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our ^(AB)God is a consuming fire.

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

13 Let ^(AC)brotherly love continue. ^2 (AD)Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby ^(AE)some have entertained angels unawares. ^3 (AF)Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. ^4 (AG)Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge ^(AH)the sexually immoral and adulterous. ⁵ Keep your life ^(AI)free from love of money, and ^(AJ)be content with what you have, for he has said, ^(AK)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say,

⁷ Remember ^(AN)your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and ^(AO)imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is ^(AP)the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be ^(AQ)led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, ^(AR)not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. ¹⁰ We have an altar ^(AS)from which those who serve the tent^[b] have no right to eat. ¹¹ For ^(AT)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned ^(AU)outside the camp. ¹² So Jesus also ^(AV)suffered ^(AW)outside the gate in order to sanctify the people ^(AX)through his own blood. ¹³ Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear ^(AY)the reproach he endured. ¹⁴ For ^(AZ)here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. ^15 (BA)Through him then let us continually offer up ^(BB)a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(BC)the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and ^(BD)to share what you have, for such ^(BE)sacrifices are pleasing to God.

¹⁷ Obey ^(BF)your leaders and submit to them, ^(BG)for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to ^(BH)give an account. ^(BI)Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

^18 (BJ)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. ¹⁹ I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order ^(BK)that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

²⁰ Now ^(BL)may the God of peace ^(BM)who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^(BN)the great shepherd of the sheep, by ^(BO)the blood of the eternal covenant,