Hebrews 12–13

12Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^g with perseverance^h the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus,ⁱ the pioneer^j and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^k scorning its shame,^l and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^{m 3}Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow wearyⁿ and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.^{o 5}And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

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

and do not lose heart^p when he rebukes you,

⁶because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,^q

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”^ar

⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^s For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^t—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^u and live!^{v 10}They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{w 11}No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^x for those who have been trained by it.

¹²Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{y 13}“Make level paths for your feet,”^bz so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^a

Warning and Encouragement

¹⁴Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^b and to be holy;^c without holiness no one will see the Lord.^{d 15}See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God^e and that no bitter root^f grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶See that no one is sexually immoral,^g or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.^{h 17}Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,ⁱ he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{j 19}to a trumpet blast^k or to such a voice speaking words^l that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{m 20}because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{cn 21}The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^do

²²But you have come to Mount Zion,^p to the city^q of the living God,^r the heavenly Jerusalem.^s You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³to the church of the firstborn,^t whose names are written in heaven.^u You have come to God, the Judge of all,^v to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{w 24}to Jesus the mediator^x of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^y that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^z

²⁵See to it that you do not refuse^a him who speaks.^b If they did not escape when they refused him who warned^c them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?^{d 26}At that time his voice shook the earth,^e but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^{ef 27}The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken^g—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^h let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{i 29}for our “God is a consuming fire.”^fj

Concluding Exhortations

13Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.^{k 2}Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,^l for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.^{m 3}Continue to remember those in prisonⁿ as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

⁴Marriage should be honored by all,^o and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.^{p 5}Keep your lives free from the love of money^q and be content with what you have,^r because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”^as

⁶So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?”^bt

⁷Remember your leaders,^u who spoke the word of God^v to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate^w their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.^x

⁹Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.^y It is good for our hearts to be strengthened^z by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,^a which is of no benefit to those who do so.^{b 10}We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle^c have no right to eat.^d

¹¹The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,^e but the bodies are burned outside the camp.^{f 12}And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate^g to make the people holy^h through his own blood.^{i 13}Let us, then, go to him^j outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.^{k 14}For here we do not have an enduring city,^l but we are looking for the city that is to come.^m

¹⁵Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrificeⁿ of praise—the fruit of lips^o that openly profess his name. ¹⁶And do not forget to do good and to share with others,^p for with such sacrifices^q God is pleased.

¹⁷Have confidence in your leaders^r and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you^s as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

¹⁸Pray for us.^t We are sure that we have a clear conscience^u and desire to live honorably in every way. ¹⁹I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.^v

Benediction and Final Greetings

²⁰Now may the God of peace,^w who through the blood of the eternal covenant^x brought back from the dead^y our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,^{z 21}equip you with everything good for doing his will,^a and may he work in us^b what is pleasing to him,^c through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^d

²²Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.^e

²³I want you to know that our brother Timothy^f has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

²⁴Greet all your leaders^g and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy^h send you their greetings.

²⁵Grace be with you all.ⁱ