Hebrews 4

1 Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

We must, therefore, be very careful, though there is a promise still standing that we will enter upon God’s rest, that none of you even appear to have missed it.

2 For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them: but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].

For we have had the good news told us just as they had. But the message which they heard did them no good, since they did not share the faith of those who were attentive to it.

3 For we who have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Upon that rest we who have believed are now entering. As God has said – “In my wrath I swore – ‘They will never enter upon my rest;’” Although God’s work was finished at the creation of the world;

4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God rested the seventh day from all his works.

for, in a passage referring to the seventh day, you will find these words – “God rested on the seventh day after all his work.”

5 And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest.

On the other hand, we read in that passage – “They will never enter upon my rest.”

6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter into it, and they to whom it was first preached entered not because of unbelief:

Since, then, there is still a promise that some will enter upon this rest, and since those who were first told the good news did not enter upon it, because of their disbelief,

7 (Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

again God fixed a day. “Today,” he said, speaking after a long interval through the mouth of David, in the passage already quoted – “If today you hear God’s voice harden not your hearts.”

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then he would not afterward have spoken of another day.

Now if Joshua had given “rest” to the people, God would not have spoken of another and later day.

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

There is, then, a Sabbath rest still awaiting God’s people.

10 For he that hath entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.)

For the person who enters upon God’s rest do themselves rest after their work, just as God did.

11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter upon that rest, so that none of us fall through such disbelief as that of which we have had an example.

12 For the word of God [is] living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God’s message is a living and active power, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing its way until it penetrates soul and spirit – not the joints only but the marrow – and detecting the inmost thoughts and purposes of the mind.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

There is no created thing that can hide itself from the sight of God. Everything is exposed and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we have to give account.

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that hath passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.

We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great high priest who has passed into the highest heaven; let us, therefore, hold fast to the faith which we have professed.

15 For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but who was in all points tempted as [we are], [yet] without sin.

Our high priest is not one unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who has in every way been tempted, exactly as we have been, but without sinning.

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Therefore, let us draw near boldly to the throne of love, to find pity and love for the hour of need.