Hebrews 4

1 Let us therefore fear, lest at any time, although there is left behind a promise of entering into his rest, —any one from amongst you should be deemed, to have come short;

Therefore let's take care to make sure that even though God has given us his promise of entering his rest, none of you miss out!

2 For we have had delivered to us the joyful message, just as even, they; but the word which was heard did not profit them, they not having been blended, by faith, with the things heard.

For we've heard the good news just like they did, but it didn't help them because they didn't accept and trust in what they heard.

3 For we who have believed, are to enter into the rest, according as he hath said—So I sware in mine anger, They shall not enter into my rest; And yet, the works, from the foundation of the world, had been brought into existence,

However, those of us who trust in God have entered into that rest God mentioned when he said, “In my frustration I vowed, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” (This is so even though God's plans were already complete when he created the world.)

4 For he hath spoken, somewhere, concerning the seventh [day], thus—And God rested, on the seventh day, from all his works;

Regarding the seventh day there's a place in Scripture that says, “God rested on the seventh day from all his work.”

5 And in this again—They shall not enter into my rest.

And as the previous passage stated, “They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Seeing, therefore, that it is left over for, some, to enter into it, and, they who formerly had delivered to them the joyful message, entered not in by reason of obstinacy, —

God's rest is still there for some to enter, even though those who previously heard the good news failed to enter because of disobedience.

7 Again, he marketh out a certain day, To-day, in David, saying—after so long a time as this, —according as it hath been said before: —To-day, if, unto his voice, ye would hearken, do not harden your hearts.

So God again sets a day—today—saying a long time later through David as he did before, “If you hear what God is saying to you today, don't have a hard-hearted attitude.”

8 For, if, unto them, Joshua had given rest, it had not in that case, concerning another day, been speaking, after, these things.

For if Joshua had been able to give them rest, God wouldn't have spoken later about another day.

9 Hence there is, left over, a Sabbath-keeping, for the people of God.

So a Sabbath rest remains for God's people.

10 For, he that hath entered into his rest, He too, hath rested from his works, just as, from his own, God, [rested].

For whoever enters God's rest also rests from what he's doing, just as God did.

11 Let us, therefore, give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall into the same example, of obstinacy.

As a result we should try hard to enter that rest so nobody falls through following the same bad example of disobedience.

12 For, living, is the word of God, and, energetic, and more cutting than any knife with two edges, and penetrating as far as a dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of joints also, and marrow, and able to judge the impulses and designs of the heart;

For God's word is alive and effective, sharper than any twin-edged sword, so penetrating it separates life and breath, bone joints and their marrow, judging the thoughts and intentions of the mind.

13 And there is, no created thing, can be secreted before him, but, all things, are naked and exposed to his eyes: —as to whom is, our discourse.

No living being is hidden from his sight; everything is exposed and visible to the one we're accountable to.

14 Having then a great high-priest who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession;

Since we have such a great high priest who has ascended to heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us make sure we hold on to what we say we believe.

15 For we have not a high-priest unable to have fellow-feeling with our weaknesses, but one tested in all respects, by way of likeness, apart from sin.

For the high priest we have isn't one who doesn't sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in all the ways we are, but did not sin.

16 Let us, then, be approaching with freedom of speech, unto the throne of favour, that we may receive mercy, and, favour, may find, for seasonable succour.

So we should go confidently to God on his throne of grace so we can receive mercy, and discover grace to help us when we really need it.