Hebrews 12
1 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:
Since, then, we have so great a cloud of witnesses placed before us, laying aside every incumbrance, and the sin which easily entangles us, let us run, with perseverance, the race set before us;
2 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.
looking to Jesus, the leader and perfecter of the faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.
Consider him who, from sinners, endured such opposition against himself, lest, becoming discouraged in your minds, you grow weary;
4 For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
you have not yet resisted to blood, struggling against this sin.
5 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.
Besides, have you forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, "My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's chastisement, neither faint when you are rebuked by him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
for whom the Lord loves he chastises, and scourges every son whom he receives."
7 Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct?
If you endure chastisement, God deals with you as his children. For what son is there whom his father does not chastise?
8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.
But if you be without chastisement, of which all sons are partakers, certainly you are bastards, and not sons.
9 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?
Farther, we have had fathers of our flesh, who chastised us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of our spirits, and live?
10 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.
For they, indeed, during a very few days, chastised us according to their pleasure; but he, for our advantage, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 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.
Now, no chastisement, indeed, for the present, seems to be matter of joy, but of sorrow. Nevertheless, afterward it returns the peaceful fruit of righteousness to them who are trained by it.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
Wherefore, bring to their right position, the arms that hang down, and the weakened knees.
13 And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting, may go out of the way; but rather be healed.
And make smooth paths for your feet, that that which is lame, may not be put out of joint, but that it may rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness: without which no man shall see God.
Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which, no one shall see the Lord:
15 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.
carefully observing, lest any one come short of the favor of God; lest some bitter root springing up, trouble you, and by it many be polluted;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau; who for one mess, sold his first birthright.
lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau; who, for one meal, gave away his birthrights.
17 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.
And you know, that although afterward he wished to inherit the blessing, he was reprobated: for he found no scope for effecting a change, though he earnestly sought it with tears.
18 For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched, and a burning fire, and a whirlwind, and darkness, and storm,
Now you are not come to a tangible mountain, which burned with fire; and to blackness, and to darkness, and to tempest,
19 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:
and to the sound of a trumpet, and to the voice of words, the hearers of which earnestly entreated that a word more might not be addressed to them:
20 For they did not endure that which was said: And if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned.
for they could not bear this threat, "Even if a beast touch the mountain, it shall shall be stoned."
21 And so terrible was that which was seen, Moses said: I am frighted, and tremble.
And so terrible was the appearance, that Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and tremble."
22 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,
But you are come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of messengers,
23 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,
to the general assembly and congregation of the first-born, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.
and to Jesus the mediator of the new institution, and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 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.
Take care that you refuse not him who speaks: for if they did not escape, who refused him who spoke on earth, much more we shall not escape, who turn away from him that speaks from heaven:
26 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.
whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once I shake not the earth only, but also the heavens."
27 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.
Now this speech, "YET ONCE," signifies the removing of the things shaken, as of things which were constituted, that the things not shaken may remain.
28 Therefore receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace; whereby let us serve, pleasing God, with fear and reverence.
Wherefore, we having received a kingdom not shaken, let us have gratitude, by which we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and religious fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
For truly our God is a consuming fire.
