GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.darby:58urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.darby:58God having spoken in many parts and in many ways formerly to the fathers in the prophets , at the end of these days has spoken to us in [ the person of the ] Son , whom he has established heir of all things , by whom also he made the worlds ; who being [ the ] effulgence of his glory and [ the ] expression of his substance , and upholding all things by the word of his power , having made [ by himself ] the purification of sins , set himself down on the right hand of the greatness on high , taking a place by so much better than the angels , as he inherits a name more excellent than they . For to which of the angels said he ever , * Thou * art my Son : this day have * I * begotten thee ? and again , * I * will be to him for father , and * he * shall be to me for son ? and again , when he brings in the firstborn into the habitable world , he says , And let all God's angels worship him . And as to the angels he says , Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire ; but as to the Son , Thy throne , O God , [ is ] to the age of the age , and a sceptre of uprightness [ is ] the sceptre of thy kingdom . Thou hast loved righteousness and hast hated lawlessness ; therefore God , thy God , has anointed thee with oil of gladness above thy companions . And , * Thou * in the beginning , Lord , hast founded the earth , and works of thy hands are the heavens . They shall perish , but * thou * continuest still ; and they all shall grow old as a garment , and as a covering shalt thou roll them up , and they shall be changed ; but * thou * art the Same , and thy years shall not fail . But as to which of the angels said he ever , Sit at my right hand until I put thine enemies [ as ] footstool of thy feet ? Are they not all ministering spirits , sent out for service on account of those who shall inherit salvation ? For this reason we should give heed more abundantly to the things [ we have ] heard , lest in any way we should slip away . For if the word which was spoken by angels was firm , and every transgression and disobedience received just retribution , how shall * we * escape if we have been negligent of so great salvation , which , having had its commencement in being spoken [ of ] by the Lord , has been confirmed to us by those who have heard ; God bearing , besides , witness with [ them ] to [ it ] , both by signs and wonders , and various acts of power , and distributions of [ the ] Holy Spirit , according to his will ? For he has not subjected to angels the habitable world which is to come , of which we speak ; but one has testified somewhere , saying , What is man , that thou rememberest him , or son of man that thou visitest him ? Thou hast made him some little inferior to the angels ; thou hast crowned him with glory and honour , [ and hast set him over the works of thy hands ; ] thou hast subjected all things under his feet . For in subjecting all things to him , he has left nothing unsubject to him . But now we see not yet all things subjected to * him * , but we see Jesus , who [ was ] made some little inferior to angels on account of the suffering of death , crowned with glory and honour ; so that by the grace of God he should taste death for every thing . For it became him , for whom [ are ] all things , and by whom [ are ] all things , in bringing many sons to glory , to make perfect the leader of their salvation through sufferings . For both he that sanctifies and those sanctified [ are ] all of one ; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren , saying , I will declare thy name to my brethren ; in [ the ] midst of [ the ] assembly will I sing thy praises . And again , I will trust in him . And again , Behold , I and the children which God has given me . Since therefore the children partake of blood and flesh , he also , in like manner , took part in the same , that through death he might annul him who has the might of death , that is , the devil ; and might set free all those who through fear of death through the whole of their life were subject to bondage . For he does not indeed take hold of angels [ by the hand ] , but he takes hold of the seed of Abraham . Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like to [ his ] brethren , that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God , to make propitiation for the sins of the people ; for , in that himself has suffered , being tempted , he is able to help those that are being tempted . Wherefore , holy brethren , partakers of [ the ] heavenly calling , consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession , Jesus , who is faithful to him that has constituted him , as Moses also in all his house . For * he * has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses , by how much he that has built it has more honour than the house . For every house is built by some one ; but he who has built all things [ is ] God . And Moses indeed [ was ] faithful in all his house , as a ministering servant , for a testimony of the things to be spoken after ; but Christ , as Son over his house , whose house are * we * , if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end . Wherefore , even as says the Holy Spirit , To-day if ye will hear his voice , harden not your hearts , as in the provocation , in the day of temptation in the wilderness ; where your fathers tempted [ me ] , by proving [ me ] , and saw my works forty years . Wherefore I was wroth with this generation , and said , They always err in heart ; and * they * have not known my ways ; so I swore in my wrath , If they shall enter into my rest . See , brethren , lest there be in any one of you a wicked heart of unbelief , in turning away from [ the ] living God . But encourage yourselves each day , as long as it is called To-day , that none of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin . For we are become companions of the Christ if indeed we hold the beginning of the assurance firm to the end ; in that it is said , To-day if ye will hear his voice , do not harden your hearts , as in the provocation ; ( for who was it , who , having heard , provoked ? but [ was it ] not all who came out of Egypt by Moses ? And with whom was he wroth forty years ? [ Was it ] not with those who had sinned , whose carcases fell in the wilderness ? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest , but to those who had not hearkened to the word ? And we see that they could not enter in on account of unbelief ; ) Let us therefore fear , lest , a promise being left of entering into his rest , any one of you might seem to have failed [ of it ] . For indeed we have had glad tidings presented to us , even as they also ; but the word of the report did not profit * them * , not being mixed with faith in those who heard . For we enter into the rest who have believed ; as he said , As I have sworn in my wrath , If they shall enter into my rest ; although the works had been completed from [ the ] foundation of [ the ] world . For he has said somewhere of the seventh [ day ] thus , And God rested on the seventh day from all his works : and in this again , If they shall enter into my rest . Seeing therefore it remains that some enter into it , and those who first received the glad tidings did not enter in on account of not hearkening to the word , again he determines a certain day , saying , in David , ' To-day , ' after so long a time ; ( according as it has been said before ) , To-day , if ye will hear his voice , harden not your hearts . For if Jesus had brought them into rest , he would not have spoken afterwards about another day . There remains then a sabbatism to the people of God . For he that has entered into his rest , he also has rested from his works , as God did from his own . Let us therefore use diligence to enter into that rest , that no one may fall after the same example of not hearkening to the word . For the word of God [ is ] living and operative , and sharper than any two-edged sword , and penetrating to [ the ] division of soul and spirit , both of joints and marrow , and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of [ the ] heart . And there is not a creature unapparent before him ; but all things [ are ] naked and laid bare to his eyes , with whom we have to do . Having therefore a great high priest who has passed through the heavens , Jesus the Son of God , let us hold fast the confession . For we have not a high priest not able to sympathise with our infirmities , but tempted in all things in like manner , sin apart . Let us approach therefore with boldness to the throne of grace , that we may receive mercy , and find grace for seasonable help . For every high priest taken from amongst men is established for men in things relating to God , that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins ; being able to exercise forbearance towards the ignorant and erring , since he himself also is clothed with infirmity ; and , on account of this [ infirmity ] , he ought , even as for the people , so also for himself , to offer for sins . And no one takes the honour to himself but [ as ] called by God , even as Aaron also . Thus the Christ also has not glorified himself to be made a high priest ; but he who had said to him , * Thou * art my Son , * I * have to-day begotten thee . Even as also in another [ place ] he says , * Thou * [ art ] a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec . Who in the days of his flesh , having offered up both supplications and entreaties to him who was able to save him out of death , with strong crying and tears ; ( and having been heard because of his piety ; ) though he were Son , he learned obedience from the things which he suffered ; and having been perfected , became to all them that obey him , author of eternal salvation ; addressed by God [ as ] high priest according to the order of Melchisedec . Concerning whom we have much to say , and hard to be interpreted in speaking [ of it ] , since ye are become dull in hearing . For when for the time ye ought to be teachers , ye have again need that [ one ] should teach you what [ are ] the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God , and are become such as have need of milk , [ and ] not of solid food . For every one that partakes of milk [ is ] unskilled in the word of righteousness , for he is a babe ; but solid food belongs to full-grown men , who , on account of habit , have their senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil . Wherefore , leaving the word of the beginning of the Christ , let us go on [ to what belongs ] to full growth , not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God , of [ the ] doctrine of washings , and of imposition of hands , and of resurrection of [ the ] dead , and of eternal judgment ; and this will we do if God permit . For it is impossible to renew again to repentance those once enlightened , and who have tasted of the heavenly gift , and have been made partakers of [ the ] Holy Spirit , and have tasted the good word of God , and [ the ] works of power of [ the ] age to come , and have fallen away , crucifying for themselves [ as they do ] the Son of God , and making a show of [ him ] . For ground which drinks the rain which comes often upon it , and produces useful herbs for those for whose sakes also it is tilled , partakes of blessing from God ; but bringing forth thorns and briars , it is found worthless and nigh to a curse , whose end [ is ] to be burned . But we are persuaded concerning you , beloved , better things , and connected with salvation , even if we speak thus . For God [ is ] not unrighteous to forget your work , and the love which ye have shewn to his name , having ministered to the saints , and [ still ] ministering . But we desire earnestly that each one of you shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end ; that ye be not sluggish , but imitators of those who through faith and patience have been inheritors of the promises . For God , having promised to Abraham , since he had no greater to swear by , swore by himself , saying , Surely blessing I will bless thee , and multiplying I will multiply thee ; and thus , having had long patience , he got the promise . For men indeed swear by a greater , and with them the oath is a term to all dispute , as making matters sure . Wherein God , willing to shew more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose , intervened by an oath , that by two unchangeable things , in which [ it was ] impossible that God should lie , we might have a strong encouragement , who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us , which we have as anchor of the soul , both secure and firm , and entering into that within the veil , where Jesus is entered as forerunner for us , become for ever a high priest according to the order of Melchisedec . For this Melchisedec , King of Salem , priest of the most high God , who met Abraham returning from smiting the kings , and blessed him ; to whom Abraham gave also the tenth portion of all ; first being interpreted King of righteousness , and then also King of Salem , which is King of peace ; without father , without mother , without genealogy ; having neither beginning of days nor end of life , but assimilated to the Son of God , abides a priest continually . Now consider how great this [ personage ] was , to whom [ even ] the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth out of the spoils . And they indeed from among the sons of Levi , who receive the priesthood , have commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law , that is from their brethren , though these are come out of the loins of Abraham : but he who has no genealogy from them has tithed Abraham , and blessed him who had the promises . But beyond all gainsaying , the inferior is blessed by the better . And here dying men receive tithes ; but there [ one ] of whom the witness is that he lives ; and , so to speak , through Abraham , Levi also , who received tithes , has been made to pay tithes . For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchisedec met him . If indeed then perfection were by the Levitical priesthood , for the people had their law given to them in connexion with * it * , what need [ was there ] still that a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchisedec , and not be named after the order of Aaron ? For , the priesthood being changed , there takes place of necessity a change of law also . For he , of whom these things are said , belongs to a different tribe , of which no one has [ ever ] been attached to the service of the altar . For it is clear that our Lord has sprung out of Juda , as to which tribe Moses spake nothing as to priests . And it is yet more abundantly evident , since a different priest arises according to the similitude of Melchisedec , who has been constituted not according to law of fleshly commandment , but according to power of indissoluble life . For it is borne witness , * Thou * art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec . For there is a setting aside of the commandment going before for its weakness and unprofitableness , ( for the law perfected nothing , ) and the introduction of a better hope by which we draw nigh to God . And by how much [ it was ] not without the swearing of an oath ; ( for they are become priests without the swearing of an oath , but he with the swearing of an oath , by him who said , as to him , The Lord has sworn , and will not repent [ of it ] , * Thou * [ art ] priest for ever [ according to the order of Melchisedec ] ; ) by so much Jesus became surety of a better covenant . And they have been many priests , on account of being hindered from continuing by death ; but he , because of his continuing for ever , has the priesthood unchangeable . Whence also he is able to save completely those who approach by him to God , always living to intercede for them . For such a high priest became us , holy , harmless , undefiled , separated from sinners , and become higher than the heavens : who has not day by day need , as the high priests , first to offer up sacrifices for his own sins , then [ for ] those of the people ; for this he did once for all [ in ] having offered up himself . For the law constitutes men high priests , having infirmity ; but the word of the swearing of the oath which [ is ] after the law , a Son perfected for ever . Now a summary of the things of which we are speaking [ is ] , We have such a one high priest who has sat down on [ the ] right hand of the throne of the greatness in the heavens ; minister of the holy places and of the true tabernacle , which the Lord has pitched , [ and ] not man . For every high priest is constituted for the offering both of gifts and sacrifices ; whence it is needful that this one also should have something which he may offer . If then indeed he were upon earth , he would not even be a priest , there being those who offer the gifts according to the law , ( who serve the representation and shadow of heavenly things , according as Moses was oracularly told [ when ] about to make the tabernacle ; for See , saith He , that thou make all things according to the pattern which has been shewn to thee in the mountain . ) But now he has got a more excellent ministry , by so much as he is mediator of a better covenant , which is established on the footing of better promises . For if that first was faultless , place had not been sought for a second . For finding fault , he says to them , Behold , days come , saith the Lord , and I will consummate a new covenant as regards the house of Israel , and as regards the house of Juda ; not according to the covenant which I made to their fathers in [ the ] day of my taking their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt ; because * they * did not continue in my covenant , and * I * did not regard them , saith [ the ] Lord . Because this [ is ] the covenant that I will covenant to the house of Israel after those days , saith the Lord : Giving my laws into their mind , I will write them also upon their hearts ; and I will be to them for God , and * they * shall be to me for people . And they shall not teach each his fellow-citizen , and each his brother , saying , Know the Lord ; because all shall know me in themselves , from [ the ] little one [ among them ] unto [ the ] great among them . Because I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesses , and their sins and their lawlessnesses I will never remember any more . In that he says New , he has made the first old ; but that which grows old and aged [ is ] near disappearing . The first therefore also indeed had ordinances of service , and the sanctuary , a worldly one . For a tabernacle was set up ; the first , in which [ were ] both the candlestick and the table and the exposition of the loaves , which is called Holy ; but after the second veil a tabernacle which is called Holy of holies , having a golden censer , and the ark of the covenant , covered round in every part with gold , in which [ were ] the golden pot that had the manna , and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted , and the tables of the covenant ; and above over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat ; concerning which it is not now [ the time ] to speak in detail . Now these things being thus ordered , into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times , accomplishing the services ; but into the second , the high priest only , once a year , not without blood , which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people : the Holy Spirit shewing this , that the way of the [ holy of ] holies has not yet been made manifest while as yet the first tabernacle has [ its ] standing ; the which [ is ] an image for the present time , according to which both gifts and sacrifices , unable to perfect as to conscience him that worshipped , are offered , [ consisting ] only of meats and drinks and divers washings , ordinances of flesh , imposed until [ the ] time of setting things right . But Christ being come high priest of the good things to come , by the better and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand , ( that is , not of this creation , ) nor by blood of goats and calves , but by his own blood , has entered in once for all into the [ holy of ] holies , having found an eternal redemption . For if the blood of goats and bulls , and a heifer's ashes sprinkling the defiled , sanctifies for the purity of the flesh , how much rather shall the blood of the Christ , who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God , purify your conscience from dead works to worship [ the ] living God ? And for this reason he is mediator of a new covenant , so that , death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant , the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance . ( For where [ there is ] a testament , the death of the testator must needs come in . For a testament [ is ] of force when men are dead , since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive . ) Whence neither the first was inaugurated without blood . For every commandment having been spoken according to [ the ] law by Moses to all the people ; having taken the blood of calves and goats , with water and scarlet wool and hyssop , he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people , saying , This [ is ] the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined to you . And the tabernacle too and all the vessels of service he sprinkled in like manner with blood ; and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law , and without blood-shedding there is no remission . [ It was ] necessary then that the figurative representations of the things in the heavens should be purified with these ; but the heavenly things themselves with sacrifices better than these . For the Christ is not entered into holy places made with hand , figures of the true , but into heaven itself , now to appear before the face of God for us : nor in order that he should offer himself often , as the high priest enters into the holy places every year with blood not his own ; since he had [ then ] been obliged often to suffer from the foundation of the world . But now once in the consummation of the ages he has been manifested for [ the ] putting away of sin by his sacrifice . And forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die , and after this judgment ; thus the Christ also , having been once offered to bear the sins of many , shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation . For the law , having a shadow of the coming good things , not the image itself of the things , can never , by the same sacrifices which they offer continually yearly , perfect those who approach . Since , would they not indeed have ceased being offered , on account of the worshippers once purged having no longer any conscience of sins ? But in these [ there is ] a calling to mind of sins yearly . For blood of bulls and goats [ is ] incapable of taking away sins . Wherefore coming into the world he says , Sacrifice and offering thou willedst not ; but thou hast prepared me a body . Thou tookest no pleasure in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin . Then I said , Lo , I come ( in [ the ] roll of the book it is written of me ) to do , O God , thy will . Above , saying Sacrifices and offerings and burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou willedst not , neither tookest pleasure in ( which are offered according to the law ) ; then he said , Lo , I come to do thy will . He takes away the first that he may establish the second ; by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all . And every priest stands daily ministering , and offering often the same sacrifices , which can never take away sins . But * he * , having offered one sacrifice for sins , sat down in perpetuity at [ the ] right hand of God , waiting from henceforth until his enemies be set [ for the ] footstool of his feet . For by one offering he has perfected in perpetuity the sanctified . And the Holy Spirit also bears us witness [ of it ] ; for after what was said : This [ is ] the covenant which I will establish towards them after those days , saith [ the ] Lord : Giving my laws into their hearts , I will write them also in their understandings ; and their sins and their lawlessnesses I will never remember any more . But where there [ is ] remission of these , [ there is ] no longer a sacrifice for sin . Having therefore , brethren , boldness for entering into the [ holy of ] holies by the blood of Jesus , the new and living way which he has dedicated for us through the veil , that is , his flesh , and [ having ] a great priest over the house of God , let us approach with a true heart , in full assurance of faith , sprinkled as to our hearts from a wicked conscience , and washed as to our body with pure water . Let us hold fast the confession of the hope unwavering , ( for he [ is ] faithful who has promised ; ) and let us consider one another for provoking to love and good works ; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together , as the custom [ is ] with some ; but encouraging [ one another ] , and by so much the more as ye see the day drawing near . For where we sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth , there no longer remains any sacrifice for sins , but a certain fearful expectation of judgment , and heat of fire about to devour the adversaries . Any one that has disregarded Moses' law dies without mercy on [ the testimony of ] two or three witnesses : of how much worse punishment , think ye , shall he be judged worthy who has trodden under foot the Son of God , and esteemed the blood of the covenant , whereby he has been sanctified , common , and has insulted the Spirit of grace ? For we know him that said , To me [ belongs ] vengeance ; * I * will recompense , saith the Lord : and again , The Lord shall judge his people . [ It is ] a fearful thing falling into [ the ] hands of [ the ] living God . But call to mind the earlier days in which , having been enlightened , ye endured much conflict of sufferings ; on the one hand , when ye were made a spectacle both in reproaches and afflictions ; and on the other , when ye became partakers with those who were passing through them . For ye both sympathised with prisoners and accepted with joy the plunder of your goods , knowing that ye have for yourselves a better substance , and an abiding one . Cast not away therefore your confidence , which has great recompense . For ye have need of endurance in order that , having done the will of God , ye may receive the promise . For yet a very little while he that comes will come , and will not delay . But the just shall live by faith ; and , if he draw back , my soul does not take pleasure in him . But * we * are not drawers back to perdition , but of faith to saving [ the ] soul . Now faith is [ the ] substantiating of things hoped for , [ the ] conviction of things not seen . For in [ the power of ] this the elders have obtained testimony . By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by [ the ] word of God , so that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which appear . By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain , by which he obtained testimony of being righteous , God bearing testimony to his gifts , and by it , having died , he yet speaks . By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death ; and was not found , because God had translated him ; for before [ his ] translation he has the testimony that he had pleased God . But without faith [ it is ] impossible to please [ him ] . For he that draws near to God must believe that he is , and [ that ] he is a rewarder of them who seek him out . By faith , Noah , oracularly warned concerning things not yet seen , moved with fear , prepared an ark for the saving of his house ; by which he condemned the world , and became heir of the righteousness which [ is ] according to faith . By faith Abraham , being called , obeyed to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance , and went out , not knowing where he was going . By faith he sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign country , having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob , the heirs with [ him ] of the same promise ; for he waited for the city which has foundations , of which God is [ the ] artificer and constructor . By faith also Sarah herself received strength for [ the ] conception of seed , and [ that ] beyond a seasonable age ; since she counted him faithful who promised . Wherefore also there have been born of one , and that of one become dead , even as the stars of heaven in multitude , and as the countless sand which [ is ] by the sea shore . All these died in faith , not having received the promises , but having seen them from afar off and embraced [ them ] , and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth . For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek [ their ] country . And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out , they had had opportunity to have returned ; but now they seek a better , that is , a heavenly ; wherefore God is not ashamed of them , to be called their God ; for he has prepared for them a city . By faith Abraham , [ when ] tried , offered up Isaac , and he who had received to himself the promises offered up his only begotten [ son ] , as to whom it had been said , In Isaac shall thy seed be called : counting that God [ was ] able to raise [ him ] even from among [ the ] dead , whence also he received him in a figure . By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come . By faith Jacob [ when ] dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph , and worshipped on the top of his staff . By faith Joseph [ when ] dying called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel , and gave commandment concerning his bones . By faith Moses , being born , was hid three months by his parents , because they saw the child beautiful ; and they did not fear the injunction of the king . By faith Moses , when he had become great , refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter ; choosing rather to suffer affliction along with the people of God than to have [ the ] temporary pleasure of sin ; esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt , for he had respect to the recompense . By faith he left Egypt , not fearing the wrath of the king ; for he persevered , as seeing him who is invisible . By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood , that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them . By faith they passed through the Red sea as through dry land ; of which the Egyptians having made trial were swallowed up . By faith the walls of Jericho fell , having been encircled for seven days . By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with the unbelieving , having received the spies in peace . And what more do I say ? For the time would fail me telling of Gideon , and Barak , and Samson , and Jephthah , and David and Samuel , and of the prophets : who by faith overcame kingdoms , wrought righteousness , obtained promises , stopped lions' mouths , quenched [ the ] power of fire , escaped [ the ] edge of the sword , became strong out of weakness , became mighty in war , made [ the ] armies of strangers give way . Women received their dead again by resurrection ; and others were tortured , not having accepted deliverance , that they might get a better resurrection ; and others underwent trial of mockings and scourgings , yea , and of bonds and imprisonment . They were stoned , were sawn asunder , were tempted , died by the death of the sword ; they went about in sheepskins , in goatskins , destitute , afflicted , evil treated , ( of whom the world was not worthy , ) wandering in deserts and mountains , and [ in ] dens and caverns of the earth . And these all , having obtained witness through faith , did not receive the promise , God having foreseen some better thing for us , that they should not be made perfect without us . Let * us * also therefore , having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us , laying aside every weight , and sin which so easily entangles us , run with endurance the race that lies before us , looking stedfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith : who , in view of the joy lying before him , endured [ the ] cross , having despised [ the ] shame , and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God . For consider well him who endured so great contradiction from sinners against himself , that ye be not weary , fainting in your minds . Ye have not yet resisted unto blood , wrestling against sin . And ye have quite forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons : My son , despise not [ the ] chastening of [ the ] Lord , nor faint [ when ] reproved by him ; for whom [ the ] Lord loves he chastens , and scourges every son whom he receives . Ye endure for chastening , God conducts himself towards you as towards sons ; for who is the son that the father chastens not ? But if ye are without chastening , of which all have been made partakers , then are ye bastards , and not sons . Moreover we have had the fathers of our flesh as chasteners , and we reverenced [ them ] ; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits , and live ? For they indeed chastened for a few days , as seemed good to them ; but he for profit , in order to the partaking of his holiness . But no chastening at the time seems to be [ matter ] of joy , but of grief ; but afterwards yields [ the ] peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it . Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down , and the failing knees ; and make straight paths for your feet , that that which is lame be not turned aside ; but that rather it may be healed . Pursue peace with all , and holiness , without which no one shall see the Lord : watching lest [ there be ] any one who lacks the grace of God ; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [ you ] , and many be defiled by it ; lest [ there be ] any fornicator , or profane person , as Esau , who for one meal sold his birthright ; for ye know that also afterwards , desiring to inherit the blessing , he was rejected , ( for he found no place for repentance ) although he sought it earnestly with tears . For ye have not come to [ the mount ] that might be touched and was all on fire , and to obscurity , and darkness , and tempest , and trumpet's sound , and voice of words ; which they that heard , excusing themselves , declined [ the ] word being addressed to them any more : ( for they were not able to bear what was enjoined : And if a beast should touch the mountain , it shall be stoned ; and , so fearful was the sight , Moses said , I am exceedingly afraid and full of trembling ; ) but ye have come to mount Zion ; and to [ the ] city of [ the ] living God , heavenly Jerusalem ; and to myriads of angels , the universal gathering ; and to [ the ] assembly of the firstborn [ who are ] registered in heaven ; and to God , judge of all ; and to [ the ] spirits of just [ men ] made perfect ; and to Jesus , mediator of a new covenant ; and to [ the ] blood of sprinkling , speaking better than Abel . See that ye refuse not him that speaks . For if those did not escape who had refused him who uttered the oracles on earth , much more we who turn away from him [ who does so ] from heaven : whose voice then shook the earth ; but now he has promised , saying , Yet once will * I * shake not only the earth , but also the heaven . But this Yet once , signifies the removing of what is shaken , as being made , that what is not shaken may remain . Wherefore let us , receiving a kingdom not to be shaken , have grace , by which let us serve God acceptably with reverence and fear . For also our God [ is ] a consuming fire . Let brotherly love abide . Be not forgetful of hospitality ; for by it some have unawares entertained angels . Remember prisoners , as bound with [ them ] ; those that are evil-treated , as being yourselves also in [ the ] body . [ Let ] marriage [ be held ] every way in honour , and the bed [ be ] undefiled ; for fornicators and adulterers will God judge . [ Let your ] conversation [ be ] without love of money , satisfied with [ your ] present circumstances ; for * he * has said , I will not leave thee , neither will I forsake thee . So that , taking courage , we may say , The Lord [ is ] my helper , and I will not be afraid : what will man do unto me ? Remember your leaders who have spoken to you the word of God ; and considering the issue of their conversation , imitate their faith . Jesus Christ [ is ] the same yesterday , and to-day , and to the ages [ to come ] . Be not carried away with various and strange doctrines ; for [ it is ] good that the heart be confirmed with grace , not meats ; those who have walked in which have not been profited by [ them ] . We have an altar of which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle ; for of those beasts whose blood is carried [ as sacrifices for sin ] into the [ holy of ] holies by the high priest , of these the bodies are burned outside the camp . Wherefore also Jesus , that he might sanctify the people by his own blood , suffered without the gate : therefore let us go forth to him without the camp , bearing his reproach : for we have not here an abiding city , but we seek the coming one . By him therefore let us offer [ the ] sacrifice of praise continually to God , that is , [ the ] fruit of [ the ] lips confessing his name . But of doing good and communicating [ of your substance ] be not forgetful , for with such sacrifices God is well pleased . Obey your leaders , and be submissive ; for * they * watch over your souls as those that shall give account ; that they may do this with joy , and not groaning , for this [ would be ] unprofitable for you . Pray for us : for we persuade ourselves that we have a good conscience , in all things desirous to walk rightly . But I much more beseech [ you ] to do this , that I may the more quickly be restored to you . But the God of peace , who brought again from among [ the ] dead our Lord Jesus , the great shepherd of the sheep , in [ the power of the ] blood of [ the ] eternal covenant , perfect you in every good work to the doing of his will , doing in you what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ ; to whom [ be ] glory for the ages of ages . Amen . But I beseech you , brethren , bear the word of exhortation , for it is but in few words that I have written to you . Know that our brother Timotheus is set at liberty ; with whom , if he should come soon , I will see you . Salute all your leaders , and all the saints . They from Italy salute you . Grace [ be ] with you all . Amen .