Hebrews 4

1 Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.

Therefore let's take care to make sure that even though God has given us his promise of entering his rest, none of you miss out!

2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.

For we've heard the good news just like they did, but it didn't help them because they didn't accept and trust in what they heard.

3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

However, those of us who trust in God have entered into that rest God mentioned when he said, “In my frustration I vowed, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” (This is so even though God's plans were already complete when he created the world.)

4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works;”

Regarding the seventh day there's a place in Scripture that says, “God rested on the seventh day from all his work.”

5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”

And as the previous passage stated, “They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good news was preached before failed to enter in because of disobedience,

God's rest is still there for some to enter, even though those who previously heard the good news failed to enter because of disobedience.

7 he again defines a certain day, “today”, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

So God again sets a day—today—saying a long time later through David as he did before, “If you hear what God is saying to you today, don't have a hard-hearted attitude.”

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

For if Joshua had been able to give them rest, God wouldn't have spoken later about another day.

9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

So a Sabbath rest remains for God's people.

10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

For whoever enters God's rest also rests from what he's doing, just as God did.

11 Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

As a result we should try hard to enter that rest so nobody falls through following the same bad example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

For God's word is alive and effective, sharper than any twin-edged sword, so penetrating it separates life and breath, bone joints and their marrow, judging the thoughts and intentions of the mind.

13 There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

No living being is hidden from his sight; everything is exposed and visible to the one we're accountable to.

14 Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.

Since we have such a great high priest who has ascended to heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us make sure we hold on to what we say we believe.

15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

For the high priest we have isn't one who doesn't sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who was tempted in all the ways we are, but did not sin.

16 Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.

So we should go confidently to God on his throne of grace so we can receive mercy, and discover grace to help us when we really need it.