Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin. Let us patiently run the race that is placed before us.
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 Let us pay attention to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of the faith. For the joy that was placed before him, he endured the cross, despised its shame, and sat down 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 So think about him, the one who has endured such opposition from sinners against himself, so that you do not become weary in your hearts and give up.
Do consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so as not to grow weary, losing courage in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted or struggled against sin to the point of blood;
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.
5 and you have forgotten the encouragement that instructs you as sons: “My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline, nor grow weary when you are corrected by 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 the Lord disciplines everyone whom he loves, and he punishes every son whom he receives.
because whom the Lord loves He chastens, yes scourges every son whom He accepts.”
7 Endure suffering as discipline. God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
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 But if you are without discipline, which all people share in, then you are illegitimate and not his sons.
But if you are without discipline (something everyone undergoes), then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
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 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best. But God disciplines us for our good, so that we can share in his holiness.
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 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. But later it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.
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 So strengthen your hands that hang down and your weak knees.
Therefore strengthen the listless hands and weakened knees,
13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be sprained but rather be healed.
and make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame not be turned aside but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with everyone, and also the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Pursue peace with all, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord;
15 Be careful so that no one lacks God's grace, and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble, so that many do not become polluted by it.
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 Be careful that there be no sexually immoral or ungodly person such as Esau, who for one meal sold his own birthright.
that no one be a fornicator, or worldly like Esau, who in exchange for one meal gave up his birthright.
17 For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought it with tears.
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 you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, a mountain of burning fire, darkness, gloom, and storm.
Now you have not come to a touchable mountain burning with fire, to blackness and darkness, to tempest;
19 You have not come to a trumpet blast, nor to a voice that speaks words whose hearers begged that not another word be spoken to them.
to a trumpet blast and spoken words such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them
20 For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
(because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain it must be stoned!”
21 So fearful was this sight that Moses said, “I am terrified and am trembling.”
and the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling!”);
22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels in celebration.
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 You have come to the congregation of the firstborn, who have been registered in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones who have been made perfect.
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 You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's blood.
to Jesus, Mediator of a new covenant, and to a blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is warning from heaven.
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 At one time, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised and said, “One more time I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
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 These words, “One more time,” mean the removal of those things that can be shaken, that is, of the things that have been created, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain.
Now the ‘yet once more’ clearly indicates the removal of the things being shaken (created things), so that the unshakables may remain.
28 Therefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be grateful and in this manner worship God with reverence and awe.
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 our God is a consuming fire.
because our God is indeed a consuming fire.
