Hebræos 12
1 Ideoque et nos tantam habentes impositam nubem testium, deponentes omne pondus, et circumstans nos peccatum, per patientiam curramus ad propositum nobis certamen:
For that reason, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of people who gave evidence of their trust in God, let's get rid of everything that holds us back, the seductive sins that trip us up, and let's keep on running the race placed before us.
2 aspicientes in Auctorem fidei, et consummatorem Iesum, qui proposito sibi gaudio sustinuit crucem, confusione contempta, atque in dextera sedis Dei sedet.
We should keep on looking to Jesus, the one who begins and completes our trust in God. Because of the joy ahead of him Jesus endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God's throne.
3 Recogitate enim eum, qui talem sustinuit a peccatoribus adversum semetipsum contradictionem: ut ne fatigemini, animis vestris deficientes.
Think about Jesus who endured such hostility from sinful people so you don't grow tired and become discouraged.
4 Nondum enim usque ad sanguinem restitistis, adversus peccatum repugnantes:
Your resistance so far hasn't cost you blood as you fight against sin.
5 et obliti estis consolationis, quae vobis tamquam filiis loquitur, dicens: Fili mi, noli negligere disciplinam Domini: neque fatigeris dum ab eo argueris.
Have you forgotten God's appeal to you when he reasons with you as his children? He says, “My child, don't treat the Lord's discipline lightly, and don't give up when he corrects you either.
6 Quem enim diligit Dominus, castigat: flagellat autem omnem filium, quem recipit.
The Lord disciplines everyone he loves, and he punishes everyone he welcomes as his child.”
7 In disciplina perseverate. Tamquam filiis vobis offert se Deus: quis enim filius, quem non corripit pater?
Be patient as you experience God's discipline because he is treating you as his children. What child doesn't experience a father's discipline?
8 Quod si extra disciplinam estis, cuius participes facti sunt omnes: ergo adulteri, et non filii estis.
If you are not disciplined, (which everyone has experienced), then you are illegitimate and not true children.
9 Deinde patres quidem carnis nostrae, eruditores habuimus, et reverebamur eos. non multo magis obtemperabimus Patri spirituum, et vivemus?
For if we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we even more be subject to the discipline of our spiritual Father which leads to life?
10 Et illi quidem in tempore paucorum dierum, secundum voluntatem suam erudiebant nos: hic autem ad id, quod utile est in recipiendo sanctificationem eius.
They disciplined us for a short while as they thought appropriate, but God does so for our benefit in order that we can share his holy character.
11 Omnis autem disciplina in praesenti quidem videtur non esse gaudii, sed moeroris: postea autem fructum pacatissimum exercitatis per eam, reddet iustitiae.
When it happens, all discipline seems painful and not something to be happy about. But later on it produces peace in those who have been trained in this way so that they do what is good and right.
12 Propter quod remissas manus, et soluta genua, erigite,
So strengthen your feeble hands, and your weak knees!
13 et gressus rectos facite pedibus vestris: ut non claudicans quis erret, magis autem sanetur.
Make straight paths to walk on, so that those who are crippled won't lose their way, but will be healed.
14 Pacem sequimini cum omnibus, et sanctimoniam, sine qua nemo videbit Deum:
Do your best to live in peace with everybody, and look for holiness—if you don't have this you won't see the Lord.
15 contemplantes nequis desit gratiae Dei: nequa radix amaritudinis sursum germinans impediat, et per illam inquinentur multi.
Make sure that none of you lack God's grace, in case some cause of bitterness arises to give trouble and end up corrupting many of you.
16 Ne quis fornicator, aut profanus ut Esau: qui propter unam escam vendidit primitiva sua:
Make sure there's nobody who is sexually immoral, or irreligious, like Esau was. He sold his birthright for a single meal.
17 scitote enim quoniam et postea cupiens hereditare benedictionem, reprobatus est: non enim invenit poenitentiae locum, quamquam cum lacrymis inquisisset eam.
You remember that even when he wanted to receive the blessing later on he was refused. Even though he really tried, and cried hard, Esau couldn't change what he had done.
18 Non enim accessistis ad tractabilem montem, et accessibilem ignem, et turbinem, et caliginem, et procellam,
You haven't arrived at a physical mountain that can be touched, that burned with fire, to a stormy place of black darkness,
19 et tubae sonum, et vocem verborum, quam qui audierunt, excusaverunt se, ne eis fieret verbum.
where the sound of a trumpet and a voice speaking was heard—and those who heard the voice begged never to hear it speak to them again.
20 Non enim portabant quod dicebatur: Et si bestia tetigerit montem, lapidabitur.
For they couldn't take what they were told to do, such as, “Even if a farm animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”
21 Et ita terribile erat quod videbatur. Moyses dixit: Exterritus sum, et tremebundus.
The sight was so terrifying that Moses himself said, “I'm so scared I'm shaking!”
22 Sed accessistis ad Sion montem, et civitatem Dei viventis, Ierusalem caelestem, et multorum millium Angelorum frequentiam,
But you have arrived at Mount Zion, the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, with its thousands and thousands of angels.
23 et Ecclesiam primitivorum, qui conscripti sunt in caelis, et iudicem omnium Deum, et spiritum iustorum perfectorum,
You have come to the church of the firstborn whose names are written down in heaven, to God, the judge of everyone, and to those good people whose lives are complete.
24 et testamenti novi mediatorem Iesum, et sanguinis aspersionem melius loquentem quam Abel.
You have come to Jesus, who shares with us the new agreed relationship, to the sprinkled blood that means more than that of Abel.
25 Videte ne recusetis loquentem. Si enim illi non effugerunt, recusantes eum, qui super terram loquebatur: multo magis nos, qui de caelis loquentem nobis avertimus.
Make sure you don't reject the one who is speaking! If they didn't escape when they rejected God on earth, it is even more certain that we won't escape if we turn away from God who warns us from heaven!
26 cuius vox movit terram tunc: nunc autem repromittit, dicens: Adhuc semel: et ego movebo non solum terram, sed et caelum.
Back then God's voice shook the earth, but his promise is now: “One more time I'm going to shake not only the earth, but heaven too.”
27 Quod autem, Adhuc semel, dicit: declarat mobilium translationem tamquam factorum, ut maneant ea, quae sunt immobilia.
This expression, “one more time,” indicates that all creation that is shaken is removed so that everything that is not shaken may remain.
28 Itaque regnum immobile suscipientes, habemus gratiam: per quam serviamus placentes Deo, cum metu et reverentia.
Since we're receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have a gracious attitude, so we can serve God in a way that pleases him, with reverence and respect.
29 Etenim Deus noster ignis consumens est.
For “our God is a fire that consumes.”
