Hebrews 6
1 Wherefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect, not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works, and of faith towards God,
So then, let us leave the beginning of the message of Christ and move forward to maturity. Let us not lay again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (aiōnios g166)
nor the foundation of teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (aiōnios g166)
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
We will also do this if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who were sharers of the Holy Spirit,
and who tasted God's good word and the powers of the age to come, (aiōn g165)
6 And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery.
but who then fell away—it is impossible to restore them again to repentance. This is because they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and publicly shame him.
7 For the earth that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.
For the land that drinks in the rain that often comes on it, and that gives birth to the plants useful to those for whom the land was worked—this is the land that receives a blessing from God.
8 But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers, is reprobate, and very near unto a curse, whose end is to be burnt.
But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and is near to a curse. Its end is in burning.
9 But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.
But we are convinced about better things concerning you, beloved ones, things that concern salvation, even though we speak like this.
10 For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered, and do minister to the saints.
For God is not so unjust that he would forget your work and the love that you have shown for his name, because you served the believers and still serve them.
11 And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:
We greatly desire that each of you may show the same diligence to the end, in order to make your hope certain.
12 That you become not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.
This is so that you will not become lazy, but imitators of those who by faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For God making promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,
For when God made his promise to Abraham, he swore by himself, since he could not swear by anyone greater.
14 Saying: Unless blessing I shall bless thee, and multiplying I shall multiply thee.
He said, “I will certainly bless you, and I will greatly increase you.”
15 And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.
In this way, Abraham obtained what was promised after he had patiently waited.
16 For men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.
For people swear by someone greater than themselves. At the end of each of their disputes, an oath serves as confirmation.
17 Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:
When God decided to show more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable quality of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath.
18 That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest comfort, who have fled for refuge to hold fast the hope set before us.
He did this so that by two unchangeable things—with which it is impossible for God to lie—we, who have fled for refuge, will have a strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us.
19 Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil;
We have this as a secure and reliable anchor for the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
