Hebrews 12:18–29

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