Hebrews 4

1 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.

We must, therefore, be very careful, though there is a promise still standing that we shall enter upon God’s Rest, that none of you even appear to have missed it.

2 For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

For we have had the Good News told us just as they had. But the Message which they heard did them no good, since they did not share the faith of those who were attentive to it.

3 Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.

Upon that Rest we who have believed are now entering. As God has said — ‘In my wrath I swore — “They shall never enter upon my Rest;”’ Although God’s work was finished at the creation of the world;

4 For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”

for, in a passage referring to the seventh day, you will find these words — ‘God rested upon the seventh day after all his work.’

5 And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”

On the other hand, we read in that passage — ‘They shall never enter upon my Rest.’

6 Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,

Since, then, there is still a promise that some shall enter upon this Rest, and since those who were first told the Good News did not enter upon it, because of their disbelief,

7 God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

again God fixed a day. ‘To-day,’ he said, speaking after a long interval through the mouth of David, in the passage already quoted — ‘If to-day you hear God’s voice Harden not your hearts.’

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

Now if Joshua had given ‘Rest’ to the people, God would not have spoken of another and later day.

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

There is, then, a Sabbath-Rest still awaiting God’s People.

10 For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

For he who enters upon God’s Rest does himself rest after his work, just as God did.

11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter upon that Rest, so that none of us fall through such disbelief as that of which we have had an example.

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

God’s Message is a living and active power, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing its way till it penetrates soul and spirit — not the joints only but the very marrow — and detecting the inmost thoughts and purposes of the mind.

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

There is no created thing that can hide itself from the sight of God. Everything is exposed and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we have to give account.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.

We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High Priest who has passed into the highest Heaven; let us, therefore, hold fast to the Faith which we have professed.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

Our High Priest is not one unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who has in every way been tempted, exactly as we have been, but without sinning.

16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Therefore, let us draw near boldly to the Throne of Love, to find pity and love for the hour of need.