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.

We must, therefore, be very careful, though there is a promise still standing that we will enter upon God’s rest, that none of you even appear to have missed it.

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 have had the good news told us just as they had. But the message which they heard did them no good, since they did not share the faith of those who were attentive to it.

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.

Upon that rest we who have believed are now entering. As God has said – “In my wrath I swore – ‘They will never enter upon my rest;’” Although God’s work was finished at the creation of the world;

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

for, in a passage referring to the seventh day, you will find these words – “God rested on the seventh day after all his work.”

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

On the other hand, we read in that passage – “They will never enter upon 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,

Since, then, there is still a promise that some will enter upon this rest, and since those who were first told the good news did not enter upon it, because of their disbelief,

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.”

again God fixed a day. “Today,” he said, speaking after a long interval through the mouth of David, in the passage already quoted – “If today you hear God’s voice harden not your hearts.”

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

Now if Joshua had given “rest” to the people, God would not have spoken of another and later day.

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

There is, then, a Sabbath rest still awaiting 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 the person who enters upon God’s rest do themselves rest after their work, just as God did.

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

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter upon that rest, so that none of us fall through such disbelief as that of which we have had an example.

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.

God’s message is a living and active power, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing its way until it penetrates soul and spirit – not the joints only but the marrow – and detecting the inmost thoughts and purposes 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.

There is no created thing that can hide itself from the sight of God. Everything is exposed and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we have to give account.

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.

We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great high priest who has passed into the highest heaven; let us, therefore, hold fast to the faith which we have professed.

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.

Our high priest is not one unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who has in every way been tempted, exactly as we have been, but without sinning.

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.

Therefore, let us draw near boldly to the throne of love, to find pity and love for the hour of need.