Hebrews 13

Concluding Exhortations

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.^a Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,^b for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.^c Continue to remember those in prison^d as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all,^e and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.^f Keep your lives free from the love of money^g and be content with what you have,^h because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”ⁱ

So we say with confidence,

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

What can human beings do to me?”^j

Remember your leaders,^k who spoke the word of God^l to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate^m their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.ⁿ

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.^o It is good for our hearts to be strengthened^p by grace, not by the eating of ceremonial foods,^q which is of no benefit to those who observe such rituals.^r We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle^s have no right to eat.^t

The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,^u but the bodies are burned outside the camp.^v And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate^w to make the people holy^x through his own blood.^y Let us, then, go to him^z outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.^a For here we do not have an enduring city,^b but we are looking for the city that is to come.^c

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice^d of praise—the fruit of lips^e that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others,^f for with such sacrifices^g God is pleased.

Have confidence in your leaders^h and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over youⁱ 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.

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

Benediction and Final Greetings

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

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

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

Greet all your leaders^k and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy^l send you their greetings.

Grace be with you all.^m