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.
Seeing then that we are encircled with this great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin that clings about us. Let us run with patience the race that is set before 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 unto Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured a cross, despising shame, and has now taken his seat at 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.
Compare yourselves with him who endured such hostility against himself at the hands of sinners, lest you grow weary, fainting in your souls.
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Not yet have you resisted unto blood in your fight 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 have you forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as sons? My son, do not despise the training of the Lord, Nor faint when he corrects you;
6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
For it is those whom he loves that he disciplines, And he scourges every son whom he acknowledges.
7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
It is for discipline that you are enduring these sufferings. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
If you are left without discipline, in which all children share, 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?
Furthermore, our earthly fathers used to discipline us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to 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.
For they only disciplined us for a few days, as seemed good to them; but he does it for our profit, that we may share his holiness.
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 no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; but afterward it yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those who have been trained under it.
12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
Wherefore lift up your listless hands, strengthen your feeble knees;
13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
make straight path for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Run swiftly after peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
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.
Look carefully that there be no one who falls back from the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up to trouble you, and by its means many become defiled.
16 See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
Take care lest there be any fornicator or scorner like Esau among you, who for one meal sold his 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 you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; he found no room for repentance, though he sought it earnestly, with tears.
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 palpable and enkindled fire,
19 to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.
nor to gloom and darkness and tempest and the blare of a trumpet and an audible voice. Those who heard that voice entreated that no word more should 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 could not endure that which was enjoined, Even if a wild beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned to death;
21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
and so terrible was the scene that Moses said, I exceedingly fear 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
On the contrary you are come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to innumerable hosts 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,
to the festal assemblage and church of the firstborn, registered in heaven, to a Judge who is God of all, to the spirits of just men 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.
to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to his sprinkled Blood whose message cries louder 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 do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape punishment when they refused to listen to their instructor on earth, much less shall we escape if we turn away from him who is teaching 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 shook the earth, but now he has promised, saying, Once again, once for all, I make not only earth, but heaven also to tremble.
27 The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.
That phrase, "Once again," signifies the removal of the things which can be shaken, created things, in order that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Wherefore since we are receiving a kingdom which is unshakable, let us give thanks, and so offer acceptable worship to God, with holy awe and fear,
29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”
FOR INDEED OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.
