Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
And you have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct?
8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?
10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification.
11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield, to them that are exercised by it, the most peaceable fruit of justice.
12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting, may go out of the way; but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Follow peace with all men, and holiness: without which no man shall see God.
15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
Looking diligently, lest any man be wanting to the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up do hinder, and by it many be defiled.
16 See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau; who for one mess, sold his first birthright.
17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.
For know ye that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, although with tears he had sought it.
18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;
For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched, and a burning fire, and a whirlwind, and darkness, and storm,
19 to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them:
20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
For they did not endure that which was said: And if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned.
21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
And so terrible was that which was seen, Moses said: I am frighted, and tremble.
22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels,
23 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,
24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke upon the earth, much more shall not we, that turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven.
26 At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”
Whose voice then moved the earth; but now he promiseth, saying: Yet once more, and I will move not only the earth, but heaven also.
27 The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.
And in that he saith, Yet once more, he signifieth the translation of the moveable things as made, that those things may remain which are immoveable.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Therefore receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace; whereby let us serve, pleasing God, with fear and reverence.
29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”
For our God is a consuming fire.
