< 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,
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 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 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 Consider therefore him that endured such speaking against of sinners, lest ye should be wearied and faint in your mindes.
Consider him who, from sinners, endured such opposition against himself, lest, becoming discouraged in your minds, you grow weary;
4 Ye haue not yet resisted vnto blood, striuing against sinne.
you have not yet resisted to blood, struggling against this sin.
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.
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 loueth, he chasteneth: and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receiueth:
for whom the Lord loves he chastises, and scourges every son whom he receives."
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 endure chastisement, God deals with you as his children. For what son is there whom his father does not chastise?
8 If therefore ye be without correction, whereof al are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sonnes.
But if you be without chastisement, of which all sons are partakers, certainly you are bastards, 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?
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 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.
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 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 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 Wherfore lift vp your hands which hang downe, and your weake knees,
Wherefore, bring to their right position, the arms that hang down, and the 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 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 Followe peace with all men, and holinesse, without the which no man shall see ye Lord.
Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which, no one shall 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.
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 Let there be no fornicator, or prophane person as Esau, which for one portion of meate solde his birthright.
lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau; who, for one meal, gave away his birthrights.
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.
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 ye are not come vnto the mount that might be touched, nor vnto burning fire, nor to blacknes and darkenes, and tempest,
Now you are not come to a tangible mountain, which burned with fire; and to blackness, and to darkness, and 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,
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 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:
for they could not bear this threat, "Even if a beast touch the mountain, it shall shall be stoned."
21 And so terrible was the sight which appeared, that Moses said, I feare and quake.)
And so terrible was the appearance, that Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and tremble."
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 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 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 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 Iesus the Mediatour of the new Testament, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then 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 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.
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 voyce then shooke the earth and nowe hath declared, saying, Yet once more will I shake, not the earth onely, but also heauen.
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 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 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 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.
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 euen our God is a consuming fire.
For truly our God is a consuming fire.