Hebrews — Chapter 12

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.

6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”

7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

8If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?

10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.

11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.

12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.

13Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

16See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;

19to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.

20For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

21The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels

23in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?

26At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”

27The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.

28Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

29“For our God is a consuming fire.”

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

18For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29For our God is a consuming fire.

1Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.

4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:

5and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;

6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom [his] father chasteneth not?

8But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10For they indeed for a few days chastened [us] as seemed good to them; but he for [our] profit, that [we] may be partakers of his holiness.

11All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, [even the fruit] of righteousness.

12Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;

13and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.

14Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

15looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby the many be defiled;

16lest [there be] any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.

17For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father,] though he sought is diligently with tears.

18For ye are not come unto [a mount] that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;

20for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;

21and so fearful was the appearance, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:

22but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,

23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than [that of] Abel.

25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned [them] on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape] who turn away from him that [warneth] from heaven:

26whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.

27And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

28Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:

29for our God is a consuming fire.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,

2keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

3Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.

4You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin.

5And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?“My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you.

6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”

7Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

8But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.

9Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?

10For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

11Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.

12Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees,

13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.

14Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.

15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through it many become defiled.

16And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

17For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.

18For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind

19and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more.

20For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

21In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”

22But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly

23and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,

24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.

25Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven?

26Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.”

27Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.

28So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.

29For our God is indeed a devouring fire.

1Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.

4You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin;

5and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;

6For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.”

7It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline?

8But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children.

9Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

10For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

11All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby.

12Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,

13and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,

15looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;

16lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.

17For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.

18For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,

19the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,

20for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”;

21and so fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

22But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,

23to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

25See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

26whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”

27This phrase, “Yet once more”, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

28Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

29for our God is a consuming fire.