Hebrews 12
1 Therefore let’s 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’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin. Let us patiently run the race that is placed before us.
2 looking 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.
Let us pay attention to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of the faith. For the joy that was placed before him, he endured the cross, despised its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
So think about him, the one who has endured such opposition from sinners against himself, so that you do not become weary in your hearts and give up.
4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.
You have not yet resisted or struggled against sin to the point of blood;
5 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;
and you have forgotten the encouragement that instructs you as sons: “My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline, nor grow weary when you are corrected by him.”
6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
For the Lord disciplines everyone whom he loves, and he punishes every son whom he receives.
7 It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline?
Endure suffering as discipline. God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children.
But if you are without discipline, which all people share in, then you are illegitimate and not his sons.
9 Furthermore, 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?
Furthermore, we had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
10 For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best. But God disciplines us for our good, so that we can share in his holiness.
11 All 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 trained by it.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. But later it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
So strengthen your hands that hang down and your weak knees.
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be sprained but rather be healed.
14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
Pursue peace with everyone, and also the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15 looking 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,
Be careful so that no one lacks God's grace, and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble, so that many do not become polluted by it.
16 lest there be any sexually immoral person or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.
Be careful that there be no sexually immoral or ungodly person such as Esau, who for one meal sold his own birthright.
17 For 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.
For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought it with tears.
18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, a mountain of burning fire, darkness, gloom, and storm.
19 the 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,
You have not come to a trumpet blast, nor to a voice that speaks words whose hearers begged that not another word be spoken to them.
20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.
For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
21 So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
So fearful was this sight that Moses said, “I am terrified and am trembling.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels in celebration.
23 to 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,
You have come to the congregation of the firstborn, who have been registered in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones who have been made perfect.
24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's blood.
25 See 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,
See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is warning from heaven.
26 whose 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.”
At one time, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised and said, “One more time I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
27 This 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.
These words, “One more time,” mean the removal of those things that can be shaken, that is, of the things that have been created, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain.
28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
Therefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be grateful and in this manner worship God with reverence and awe.
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
For our God is a consuming fire.
