Hebrews 12:18–13:8

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You 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 blastk or to such a voice speaking wordsl 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.”c n 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”d o

22 But you have come to Mount Zion,p to the cityq of the living God,r the heavenly Jerusalem.s You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to 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 mediatorx of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled bloody that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.z

25 See to it that you do not refusea him who speaks.b If they did not escape when they refused him who warnedc 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.”e f 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shakeng—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, 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.”f j

Concluding Exhortations

13 Keep 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.

4 Marriage 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 moneyq and be content with what you have,r because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”a s

6 So we say with confidence,

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

What can mere mortals do to me?”b t

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