Hebrews 12
1 Let us also therefore, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and sin which so easily entangles us, run with endurance the race that lies before us,
Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
2 looking stedfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith: who, in view of the joy lying before him, endured [the] cross, having despised [the] shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider well him who endured so great contradiction from sinners against himself, that ye be not weary, fainting in your minds.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary or lose heart.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, wrestling against sin.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5 And ye have quite forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, despise not [the] chastening of [the] Lord, nor faint [when] reproved by him;
And you have completely forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not think lightly of the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you.
6 for whom [the] Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he punishes every son he receives.”
7 Ye endure for chastening, God conducts himself towards you as towards sons; for who is the son that the father chastens not?
For the sake of discipline you must endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
8 But if ye are without chastening, of which all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
If you do not experience discipline, which is something everyone receives, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Moreover we have had the fathers of our flesh as chasteners, and we reverenced [them]; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed chastened for a few days, as seemed good to them; but he for profit, in order to the partaking of his holiness.
For our fathers disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in his holiness.
11 But no chastening at the time seems to be [matter] of joy, but of grief; but afterwards yields [the] peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it.
Now no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those trained by it.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the failing knees;
Therefore, lift up your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.
13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned aside; but that rather it may be healed.
Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but healed instead.
14 Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord:
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.
15 watching lest [there be] any one who lacks the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and many be defiled by it;
Make sure no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, which would result in many becoming defiled.
16 lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright;
And make sure there is no fornicator or profane person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.
17 for ye know that also afterwards, desiring to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, (for he found no place for repentance) although he sought it earnestly with tears.
You know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought the blessing with tears.
18 For ye have not come to [the mount] that might be touched and was all on fire, and to obscurity, and darkness, and tempest,
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, to a blazing fire, darkness, gloom, and a whirlwind.
19 and trumpet's sound, and voice of words; which they that heard, excusing themselves, declined [the] word being addressed to them any more:
You have not come to a trumpet blast and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further word be spoken to them.
20 (for they were not able to bear what was enjoined: And if a beast should touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;
For they could not bear the order that was given: “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
21 and, so fearful was the sight, Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and full of trembling; )
Indeed, the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 but ye have come to mount Zion; and to [the] city of [the] living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads of angels,
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels,
23 the universal gathering; and to [the] assembly of the firstborn [who are] registered in heaven; and to God, judge of all; and to [the] spirits of just [men] made perfect;
to the festive gathering and assembly of the firstborn, whose names are enrolled in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous people who have been made perfect.
24 and to Jesus, mediator of a new covenant; and to [the] blood of sprinkling, speaking better than Abel.
And you have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if those did not escape who had refused him who uttered the oracles on earth, much more we who turn away from him [who does so] from heaven:
Be careful not to refuse him who is speaking. For if the people did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, Yet once will I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
27 But this Yet once, signifies the removing of what is shaken, as being made, that what is not shaken may remain.
Now the phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore let us, receiving a kingdom not to be shaken, have grace, by which let us serve God acceptably with reverence and fear.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. It is by our thankfulness that we offer God acceptable worship, with reverence and godly fear.
29 For also our God [is] a consuming fire.
For our God is a consuming fire.
