Hebrews 13
1 Continue to love your fellow believers.
Let brotherly love continue.
2 Do not forget to be hospitable to needy travelers [LIT]. You need to know that by being hospitable, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Do not forget hospitality to strangers, for in doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it.
3 Remember [to help] those who are in prison [because they are Christians], as though you were in prison with them. Remember those who are being mistreated {whom people are mistreating} [because they are believers. As you do that], consider that you you could suffer as they do.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, those who are being mistreated as if you yourselves were physically there.
4 You must (respect/keep sacred) the marriage relationship in every way, and you must keep sexual relations [EUP] pure, because God will surely condemn those who act immorally and those who act adulterously.
Marriage is honorable among all and the marriage bed undefiled, but God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
5 Live without constantly coveting money, and be content with the things you possess, remembering what [Moses] wrote [that God] has said [about supplying what you need], I will never leave you, I will never stop providing for you [DOU].
Your way of life should be free from the love of money, being content with what you have, because He Himself has said: “I absolutely will not desert you; I most certainly will not abandon you.”
6 So we can say confidently [as the Psalmist said], Since the Lord is the one who helps me, I will not be afraid! People can do nothing to me [that will deprive me of God’s blessings] [RHQ].
So we can say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
7 Your spiritual leaders used to tell you the message from God [before they died]. Remember how they conducted their lives. By considering (how they died/what resulted from how they lived), imitate how they believed [in Christ/God].
Remember your leaders, those who spoke the Word of God to you, whose faith imitate, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is Himself, yesterday and today and into the ages. (aiōn g165)
9 [So], do not let yourselves be diverted {let anything divert you} so that you believe various teachings [that are contrary to God’s truth]. It is good that God acts kindly toward us so that we may be strengthened spiritually. [Obeying rules about] various foods, rules that have not benefited those who obeyed them, will not benefit us.
Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings, because it is good that the heart be established by grace, not foods, by which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
10 We have [Jesus] [MTY]. All those who continue to observe the Jewish rituals [MTY] of sacrifice have no right to obtain the benefits of his sacrifice [MET].
We have an altar from which those who serve in the Tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 After the high priest brings into the most holy place the blood of animals [that they have sacrificed to atone] for sins, the bodies of those animals are burned {they burn the bodies of those animals} outside the camp.
Because the bodies of the animals—whose blood, concerning sin, is brought into the Holies by the high priest—are burned up outside the camp,
12 Similarly, Jesus suffered [and died] outside the gate [of Jerusalem] in order that he might make [us], his people, holy by [offering] his own blood [as a sacrifice to atone for our sins].
therefore Jesus also, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood, suffered outside the city gate.
13 So, we must abandon [performing Jewish] sacrifices and rituals [MET] [in order to be saved], and let us go to Jesus [to be saved]. As we do that, we must [be willing to] let others reproach us just like people reproached Jesus.
So then, let us go out to Him, outside the camp, bearing His disgrace;
14 Here on earth, we believers do not have a city [such as Jerusalem where we must] continually [offer sacrifices] [MET]. Instead, we are waiting for a future [heavenly] city [that will last forever].
because here we do not have a permanent city, but we seek the coming one.
15 With [the help of] Jesus, we must continually praise God. That will be something we can sacrifice [to him] [MET] [instead of our sacrificing animals only at specific times]. Specifically, we must say openly [MTY] [that we have trusted] in Christ [MTY].
Through Him therefore, at all times, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God—the fruit of lips that identify with His name.
16 Be continually [LIT] doing good deeds [for others], and be continually sharing [with others the things you have], because doing things like that will [also] be [as though you are offering] sacrifices that will please God.
(But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.)
17 Obey your [spiritual] leaders; do what they tell you, since they are the ones who are looking out for your spiritual welfare [SYN]. [Some day] they will have to stand before God so that he can say if he approves of what they have done. Obey them in order that they can do the work of guarding you joyfully, and not have to do it sadly, because if you cause them to do it sadly, that will certainly not help you at all (OR, they will not be able to help you at all).
Obey your leaders and submit, for they keep watch over your souls, as those who must give account, so that they may do it with joy and not sighing (which would be unprofitable for you).
18 Pray for me. I am certain that I have not done anything that displeases God. I have tried to act honorably [toward you] in every way.
Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, desiring to live commendably in all things;
19 I urge you earnestly to pray that [God] will quickly remove the things that hinder my coming to you.
I especially urge you to do this so that I may be restored to you more quickly.
20 Jesus [provides for us], [protects us, and guides us as] a great shepherd does for his sheep [MET]. And God, who gives us [inner] peace, brought our Lord Jesus back to life. By doing that, God ratified his eternal covenant with us by the blood [that flowed from Jesus when he died on the] cross. (aiōnios g166)
Now may the God of peace—who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep— (aiōnios g166)
21 So I pray that God will equip you with everything good [that you need in order] that you may do the things that he desires. May he accomplish in our lives whatever he considers pleasing as a result of Jesus Christ [equipping us]. May Jesus Christ be praised forever. (Amen!/May it be so!) (aiōn g165)
equip you for every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
22 My fellow believers, I appeal to you that you patiently consider [what] I have written in this short letter, to exhort you.
Now I appeal to you, brothers, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.
23 I want you to know that our fellow believer Timothy has been released {[the authorities] have released our fellow believer Timothy} [from prison]. If he comes here soon, he will accompany me when I go to see you.
Know that brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you, if he comes quickly.
24 Tell all your [spiritual] leaders and all the [other] fellow believers [in your city] that (I am thinking fondly about them/I am sending them my greetings). The believers [in this area who have come] from Italy [want you to know they] are (thinking about you/sending you their greetings).
Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.
25 [I pray that] you will continue to experience God’s acting kindly toward you all.
The Grace be with you all. Amen.
