Hebrews 12:1–17

The Example of Jesus’ Suffering

12Therefore, since^* we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us^a, let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself,^* so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up. ⁴You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your^* blood as you^* struggle against sin. ⁵And have you completely forgotten the exhortation which instructs you as sons?

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

or give up when you are corrected by him.

⁶For the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves,

and punishes every son whom he accepts.”^b

⁷Endure it for discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? ⁸But if you are without discipline, in which all legitimate sons^* have become participants, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹Furthermore, we have had our earthly fathers^c who disciplined us, and we respected them. Will we not much rather subject ourselves to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they disciplined us for a few days according to what seemed appropriate to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we can have a share in his holiness. ¹¹Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

A Serious Warning Against Refusing God

¹²Therefore strengthen your slackened hands and your weakened knees, ¹³and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be dislocated, but rather be healed. ¹⁴Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶that no one be a sexually immoral or totally worldly person like Esau, who for one meal traded his own birthright. ¹⁷For you know that also afterwards, when he^* wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he did not find an occasion for repentance, although he sought it with tears.