< Hebrews 12 >
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Having therefore so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every incumbrance, and the sin that easily besets us, and run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
looking unto Jesus the leader and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Wherefore consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, that ye may not give out, fainting in your minds:
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
for ye have not resisted unto blood in striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Have ye forgotten the exhortation, which speaketh to you as to sons, saying, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor saint when rebuked by Him?
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
If ye endure chastening, God treateth you as sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not chastise?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
But if ye be without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Now if we had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness.
For they indeed corrected us for a while, as seemed good to them; but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Now no chastening seems for the present to be matter of joy but of grief: and yet afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those that are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Lift up therefore the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
And make strait paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Follow peace with all men; and holiness, without which none shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
looking to it, least there be any one falling short of the grace of God, least any root of bitterness springing up should be troublesome, and by it many be defiled:
16 Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
least there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one repast gave away his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
For ye know that, when he would afterwards have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no room for repentance, though he sought it earnestly even with tears.
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Ye are not come to a tangible mountain, and burning fire, and a thick cloud, and darkness, and tempest,
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard, intreated that the word might not any more be thus delivered to them:
20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
(for they could not bear the strict command, if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or shot through with a dart;
21 And so terrible was the sight, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake: )
and so terrible was the appearance that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and tremble: )
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
but ye are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.
and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven:
See that ye reject not Him that speaketh; for if they escaped not, who rejected him that gave forth divine oracles on earth, much less shall we, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
whose voice then shook the earth; but now He hath promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven."
27 And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Now this expression "yet once more" signifieth the removing of the things that are shaken, as of things which had been appointed only for a season, that those which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Wherefore since we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and holy fear:
29 For our God [is] a consuming fire.
for our God is a consuming fire.