< Hebrews 12 >

1 Wherefore, let vs also, seeing that we are compassed with so great a cloude of witnesses, cast away euery thing that presseth downe, and the sinne that hangeth so fast on: let vs runne with patience the race that is set before vs,
So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we too must run with endurance the race that is set before us, laying aside every impediment and the sin that so easily ensnares,
2 Looking vnto Iesus the authour and finisher of our faith, who for the ioy that was set before him, endured the crosse, and despised the shame, and is set at the right hand of the throne of God.
looking unto Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of the Faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured a cross, scorning its ignominy, and took His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider therefore him that endured such speaking against of sinners, lest ye should be wearied and faint in your mindes.
Do consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so as not to grow weary, losing courage in your souls.
4 Ye haue not yet resisted vnto blood, striuing against sinne.
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.
5 And ye haue forgotten the consolation, which speaketh vnto you as vnto children, My sonne, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him.
And you have forgotten the exhortation that instructs you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, nor lose heart when you are reproved by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loueth, he chasteneth: and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receiueth:
because whom the Lord loves He chastens, yes scourges every son whom He accepts.”
7 If ye endure chastening, God offereth him selfe vnto you as vnto sonnes: for what sonne is it whom the father chasteneth not?
If you are enduring discipline, God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not discipline?
8 If therefore ye be without correction, whereof al are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sonnes.
But if you are without discipline (something everyone undergoes), then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Moreouer we haue had the fathers of our bodies which corrected vs, and we gaue them reuerence: should we not much rather be in subiection vnto the father of spirites, that we might liue?
Furthermore, we have had our human fathers as correctors and respected them. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they verely for a few dayes chastened vs after their owne pleasure: but he chasteneth vs for our profite, that we might be partakers of his holinesse.
Now they indeed disciplined us during a short period as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, so that we may partake of His holiness.
11 Now no chastising for the present seemeth to be ioyous, but, grieuous: but afterwarde, it bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnesse, vnto them which are thereby exercised.
Now no discipline seems to be pleasant at the time, but painful; yet afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised by it.
12 Wherfore lift vp your hands which hang downe, and your weake knees,
Therefore strengthen the listless hands and weakened knees,
13 And make straight steppes vnto your feete, lest that which is halting, be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
and make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame not be turned aside but rather be healed.
14 Followe peace with all men, and holinesse, without the which no man shall see ye Lord.
Pursue peace with all, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord;
15 Take heede, that no man fall away from the grace of God: let no roote of bitternes spring vp and trouble you, lest thereby many be defiled.
taking care that no one come short of the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and thereby many be defiled,
16 Let there be no fornicator, or prophane person as Esau, which for one portion of meate solde his birthright.
that no one be a fornicator, or worldly like Esau, who in exchange for one meal gave up his birthright.
17 For ye knowe howe that afterwarde also when he woulde haue inherited the blessing, he was reiected: for he founde no place to repentance, though he sought that blessing with teares.
Because you do indeed know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing he was rejected; he found no place for a change of mind, though he sought it diligently with tears.
18 For ye are not come vnto the mount that might be touched, nor vnto burning fire, nor to blacknes and darkenes, and tempest,
Now you have not come to a touchable mountain burning with fire, to blackness and darkness, to tempest;
19 Neither vnto the sounde of a trumpet, and the voyce of wordes, which they that heard it, excused themselues, that the word should not be spoken to them any more,
to a trumpet blast and spoken words such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them
20 (For they were not able to abide that which was commanded, yea, though a beast touche the mountaine, it shalbe stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
(because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain it must be stoned!”
21 And so terrible was the sight which appeared, that Moses said, I feare and quake.)
and the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling!”);
22 But ye are come vnto the mount Sion, and to the citie of the liuing God, the celestiall Hierusalem, and to ye company of innumerable Angels,
but you have come to Mount Zion, even to the City of the Living God, Heavenly Jerusalem; to myriads of angels in festal gathering,
23 And to the assemblie and congregation of the first borne, which are written in heauen, and to God the iudge of all, and to the spirits of iust and perfite men,
to an assembly of firstborn ones who have been enrolled in heaven; to God, Judge of all; to the spirits of the perfected righteous;
24 And to Iesus the Mediatour of the new Testament, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel.
to Jesus, Mediator of a new covenant, and to a blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that ye despise not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not which refused him, that spake on earth: much more shall we not escape, if we turne away from him, that speaketh from heauen.
See to it that you not refuse Him who speaks. Because if they did not escape who refused Him who gave divine warning on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns from Heaven!
26 Whose voyce then shooke the earth and nowe hath declared, saying, Yet once more will I shake, not the earth onely, but also heauen.
Then His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth but also the heaven.”
27 And this worde, Yet once more, signifieth the remouing of those things which are shaken, as of things which are made with hands, that the things which are not shaken, may remaine.
Now the ‘yet once more’ clearly indicates the removal of the things being shaken (created things), so that the unshakables may remain.
28 Wherefore seeing we receiue a kingdome, which cannot be shaken, let vs haue grace whereby we may so serue God, that we may please him with reuerence and feare.
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us hold on to the grace by which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear;
29 For euen our God is a consuming fire.
because our God is indeed a consuming fire.

< Hebrews 12 >