The Race of Faith

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, alet us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and blet us run cwith endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the 1author and 2finisher of our faith, dwho for the joy that was set before Him eendured the cross, despising the shame, and fhas sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God

3 gFor consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, hlest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 iYou have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

j“My son, do not despise the 3chastening of the Lord,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

6 For kwhom the Lord loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 lIf 4you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what mson is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, nof which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to othe Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, pthat we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no 5chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields qthe peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Renew Your Spiritual Vitality

12 Therefore rstrengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 sPursue peace with all people, and holiness, twithout which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone ufall short of the grace of God; lest any vroot of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any wfornicator or 6profane person like Esau, xwho for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was yrejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

The Glorious Company

18 For you have not come 7to zthe mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and 8darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it abegged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: b“And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned 9or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, c“I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the 1general assembly and church of dthe firstborn ewho are registered in heaven, to God fthe Judge of all, to the spirits of just men gmade perfect, 24 to Jesus hthe Mediator of the new covenant, and to ithe blood of sprinkling that speaks better things jthan that of Abel.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For kif they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, l“Yet once more I 2shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the mremoval of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we 3may nserve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For oour God is a consuming fire.

Concluding Moral Directions

13 Let abrotherly love continue. 2 bDo not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing csome have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 dRemember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

4 eMarriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; fbut fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, g“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:

h“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?”

Concluding Religious Directions

7 Remember those who 1rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is ithe same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried 2about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might 3sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing jHis reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 kTherefore by Him let us continually offer lthe sacrifice of praise to God, that is, mthe fruit of our lips, 4giving thanks to His name. 16 nBut do not forget to do good and to share, for owith such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 pObey those who 5rule over you, and be submissive, for qthey watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Prayer Requested

18 rPray for us; for we are confident that we have sa good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell

20 Now may tthe God of peace uwho brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, vthat great Shepherd of the sheep, wthrough the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you 6complete in every good work to do His will, xworking in 7you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

24 Greet all those who 8rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.