Jesus, the Example

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also alay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us brun with cendurance the race that is set before us,

2 1fixing our eyes on Jesus, the 2aauthor and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him bendured the cross, cdespising the shame, and has dsat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For aconsider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary 1band lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

4 aYou have not yet resisted 1bto the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

“aMy son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

Nor bfaint when you are reproved by Him;

6 aFor those bwhom the Lord loves He disciplines,

And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you endure; aGod deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, aof which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had 1earthly fathers to discipline us, and we arespected them; shall we not much rather be subject to bthe Father of 2spirits, and clive?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, aso that we may share His holiness.

11 All discipline afor the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the bpeaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 Therefore, 1astrengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

13 and amake straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather bbe healed.