^12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,¹ we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, ^12:2keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.²^12:3Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. ^12:4You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed³ in your struggle against sin. ^12:5And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?

“My son, do not scorn⁴ the Lord’s discipline

or give up when he corrects⁵ you.

^12:6“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”⁶

^12:7Endure your suffering⁷ as discipline;⁸ God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? ^12:8But if you do not experience discipline,⁹ something all sons¹⁰ have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. ^12:9Besides, we have experienced discipline from¹¹ our earthly fathers¹² and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?¹³^12:10For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. ^12:11Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.¹⁴ But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness¹⁵ for those trained by it.

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Hebrews 12:1: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us …

Footnotes

1 Grk “having such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”
2 An allusion to Ps 110:1.
3 Grk “until blood.”
4 Or “disregard,” “think little of.”
5 Or “reproves,” “rebukes.” The Greek verb ἐλέγχω (elenchō) implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.
6 A quotation from Prov 3:11–12.
7 Grk “endure,” with the object (“your suffering”) understood from the context.
8 Or “in order to become disciplined.”
9 Grk “you are without discipline.”
10 Grk “all”; “sons” is implied by the context.
11 Grk “we had our earthly fathers as discipliners.”
12 Grk “the fathers of our flesh.” In Hebrews, “flesh” is a characteristic way of speaking about outward, physical, earthly life (cf. Heb 5:7; 9:10, 13), as opposed to the inward or spiritual dimensions of life.
13 Grk “and live.” Submit ourselves … to the Father of spirits and receive life. This idea is drawn from Proverbs, where the Lord’s discipline brings life, while resistance to it leads to death (cf. Prov 4:13; 6:23; 10:17; 16:17).
14 Grk “all discipline at the time does not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow.”
15 Grk “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”