Hebrews 12:1-29
12 So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses*+ surrounding us, let us also put off every weight+ and the sin that easily entangles us,+ and let us run with endurance+ the race+ that is set before us,+
2 as we look intently at the Chief Agent*+ and Perfecter of our faith,+ Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured+ a torture stake,* despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.+
3 Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such contrary talk+ by sinners against their own interests,* that YOU may not get tired and give out in YOUR souls.+
4 In carrying on YOUR contest against that sin YOU have never yet resisted as far as blood,+
5 but YOU have entirely forgotten the exhortation which addresses YOU as sons:+ “My son, do not belittle [the] discipline from Jehovah,* neither give out when you are corrected* by him;+
6 for whom Jehovah* loves he disciplines; in fact, he scourges every one whom he receives as a son.”+
7 It is for discipline+ YOU are enduring. God is dealing with YOU as with sons.+ For what son is he that a father does not discipline?+
8 But if YOU are without the discipline of which all have become partakers, YOU are really illegitimate children,+ and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we used to have fathers who were of our flesh to discipline us,+ and we used to give them respect. Shall we not much more subject ourselves to the Father of our spiritual life* and live?+
10 For they for a few days used to discipline us according to what seemed good to them,+ but he does so for our profit that we may partake of his holiness.+
11 True, no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous;+ yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit,+ namely,* righteousness.+
12 Hence straighten up the hands that hang down+ and the enfeebled knees,+
13 and keep making straight paths for YOUR feet,+ that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather that it may be healed.+
14 Pursue peace with all people,+ and the sanctification+ without which no man will see the Lord,+
15 carefully watching that no one may be deprived of the undeserved kindness of God;+ that no poisonous root+ may spring up and cause trouble and that many may not be defiled by it;+
16 that there may be no fornicator nor anyone not appreciating sacred things, like Eʹsau,+ who in exchange for one meal gave away his rights as firstborn.+
17 For YOU know that afterward also when he wanted to inherit the blessing+ he was rejected,+ for, although he earnestly sought a change of mind* with tears,+ he found no place for it.+
18 For YOU have not approached that which can be felt+ and which has been set aflame with fire,+ and a dark cloud and thick darkness and a tempest,+
19 and the blare of a trumpet+ and the voice of words;+ on hearing which voice the people implored that no word should be added to them.+
20 For the command was not bearable to them: “And if a beast touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”+
21 Also, the display* was so fearsome that Moses said: “I am fearful and trembling.”+
22 But YOU have approached a Mount Zion+ and a city+ of [the] living God, heavenly Jerusalem,+ and myriads* of angels,+
23 in general assembly,*+ and the congregation of the firstborn+ who have been enrolled*+ in the heavens, and God the Judge of all,+ and the spiritual lives*+ of righteous ones who have been made perfect,+
24 and Jesus the mediator*+ of a new covenant,+ and the blood of sprinkling,+ which speaks in a better way than Abel’s [blood].+
25 See that YOU do not beg off from him who is speaking.+ For if they did not escape who begged off from him who was giving divine warning upon earth,+ much more shall we not if we turn away from him who speaks from the heavens.+
26 At that time his voice shook the earth,+ but now he has promised, saying: “Yet once more I will set in commotion not only the earth but also the heaven.”+
27 Now the expression “Yet once more” signifies the removal of the things being shaken as things that have been made,+ in order that the things not being shaken may remain.+
28 Wherefore, seeing that we are to receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken,+ let us continue to have undeserved kindness, through which we may acceptably render God sacred service* with godly fear and awe.+
29 For our God is also a consuming fire.+
Footnotes
^ “Of witnesses.” Gr., mar·tyʹron; Lat., teʹsti·um; J17,18,22(Heb.), ʽe·dhimʹ.
^ Lit., “Chief Leader.” Gr., ar·khe·gonʹ.
^ See App 5C.
^ “Against their own interests,” P46אVgSyp; AVgcSyh, “against him himself.”
^ See App 1D.
^ Lit., “being reproved.”
^ See App 1D.
^ “Of our spiritual life.” Lit., “of the spirits.” Gr., ton pneu·maʹton; J17,18,22(Heb.), ha·ru·chohthʹ.
^ Or, “fruit of.”
^ “Change of mind,” that is, a change of Isaac’s mind. Gr., me·ta·noiʹas.
^ Lit., “the (thing) being made apparent.”
^ Or, “tens of thousands.” Gr., my·ri·aʹsin.
^ “Spiritual lives.” Lit., “spirits.” Gr., pneuʹma·si; J17,18,22(Heb.), ru·chohthʹ.
^ Lit., “having been written off.”
^ Lit., “to all-assembly.” Gr., pa·ne·gyʹrei.
^ “Mediator.” Gr., me·siʹtei; Lat., me·di·a·toʹrem.
