A New Translation of the Letter to the

Hebrews

Based on the Westcott and Hort Text of 1881 with references to the Papyrus fragments of the Chester Beatty collections, c. 3^rd Century A.D. and the Sinaitic Manuscript of the 4^th Century.

Some notes on this translation:

Thou vs. YOU: Many people today have a hard time understanding the Elizabethan usage of thou, thee, thy, etc. For this reason, we have chosen to avoid this archaic language. At the same time, we need to be able to fulfill the purpose of those words, which was to distinguish between a singular you and a plural YOU. Following the example of other translations, we have used all capital letters to indicate plural (more than one person addressed), and small letters to indicate singular (one person addressed).

Words in italics: Following the example of other translations, we have used italics for words that are not in the original text, but which are essential to the sense of the original when translated into English. Unlike other translations, however, we have NOT added words which alter the meaning of the original.

Words in (parentheses): These are not part of the biblical text, but are notes of explanation from the translator.

Perfect vs. Complete: Many English versions use the word “perfect” both as a verb and as an adjective, to translate a particular Greek root. We have also used it occasionally, but it should be understood as perfect in the sense of “complete” and not in the sense of “without flaw.”

Hebrews 1

1 God, having of old spoken to the fathers by the prophets in many places and in many ways,

2 has at the end of these days spoken unto us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the ages;

3 who being the reflection of his glory, and the exact image of his essence, and bringing forth all things by the spoken word of his power, when he had brought about cleansing of sins, sat down in the right hand of the Majesty on high;

4 having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.

5 For to which of the angels did he ever say, you are my Son, Today I have begotten you? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he will be to me a Son?

6 But again, when he brings the Firstborn into the world he says, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he says, He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire:

8 but of the Son, he says, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom (some manuscripts say “his kingdom”).

9 You loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

10 And, you, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands:

11 They will perish; but you remain: And all will grow old as a garment;

12 And you will fold them up like a cloak, and they will be altered like a garment: But you are the same, and your years will not cease.

13 But to which of the angels has he ever said, Sit on my right hand, Till I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?

14 Aren’t they all ministering spirits, sent forth into service for those who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 2

1 Therefore we ought to more abundantly pay attention to the things that were heard, that we never drift away.

2 For if the word spoken through angels proved stable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward;

3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by them that heard;

4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his will.

5 For he did not subject the world to come, about which we are speaking, to angels.

6 But someone, somewhere, testified, saying, What is man, that you remember him? Or the son of man, that you visit him?

7 You made him a little lower than angels; You crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of your hands:

8 You subjected all things under his feet. For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

9 But we are looking at Jesus who, having been made a little lower than the angels, through the suffering of death has been crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for all.

10 For it was fitting for him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to complete the Captain (literally “chief leader”) of their salvation through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifies and they that are sanctified are all out of one: therefore he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 saying, I will declare your name to my brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will I sing of you.

13 And again, I will be trusting in him. And again, Look, I and the children whom God gave to me!

14 Therefore, since the children are sharers in blood and flesh, he also similarly partook of the same; that through death he might make abolish him that had the dominion of death, that is, the devil;

15 and might release all them who, through fear of death, were all their lives held in slavery.

16 For truly he has not taken hold of angels, but he has taken hold of the seed of Abraham.

17 So he was obliged in all things to be made like his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he has suffered being tempted, he is able to help them that are tempted.

Hebrews 3

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus;

2 who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.

3 For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as he that built the house has more honor than the house.

4 For every house is built by someone; but he that built all things is God.

5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as an attendant, as a witness of those things which were to be spoken afterward;

6 but Christ as a Son, was faithful over his house; whose house we are, if we hold on to our boldness and the boasting of our hope firmly until the end.

7 Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, Today if YOU should hear his voice,

8 do not harden YOUR hearts, as in the provocation, as in the day of the testing in the wilderness,

9 Where YOUR fathers tempted by testing, and saw my works forty years.

10 Through which I was irritated with this generation, And I said, They always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;

11 As I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

12 Watch out, brethren, that there will not ever be in any one of YOU an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:

13 but encourage each another each day, so long as it is called Today; so that none of YOU be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:

14 for we have become partakers of Christ, if indeed we hold firmly the beginning of our assurance until the end:

15 while it is said, Today if YOU should hear his voice, do not harden YOUR hearts, as in the provocation.

16 For who, having heard, provoked? Wasn’t it all who went out of Egypt through Moses?

17 And with whom was he irritated forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter into his rest, if not to them that disobeyed?

19 And we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4

1 A promise being left to enter into his rest, we should fear, therefore, lest some one of YOU may ever seem to have fallen short of it.

2 For we have also had good news brought to us, even as they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, not being combined with faith by them that heard.

3 For we, having believed, are entering into that rest; just as he has said, As I swore in my wrath, They will not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he has said somewhere about the seventh day this: And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;

5 and in this again, They will not enter into my rest.

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter into it, and they to whom the good news was first brought failed to enter in because of disobedience,

7 he is again appointing a certain day, Today, saying in David after so much time, just as it has been said before, Today if YOU should hear his voice, do not harden YOUR hearts.

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.

9 Therefore, there still remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

10 For he that has entered into his rest, has also rested from his works, as God did from his own.

11 Let us therefore do our best to enter into that rest, that no one fall in the same example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is alive, and active, and sharper than every two-edged sword, and piercing even to the separating of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 And there is no creation that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open to the eyes of him who is the Word to us.

14 Having then a great high priest, who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we may take hold of the profession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses; but one having been tempted in all things just like us, but without sin.

16 Therefore we may approach to the throne of grace with boldness, that we might receive mercy, and might find grace for well-timed help.

Hebrews 5

1 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 being able to deal gently with the ignorant and erring, since he also is hampered by weakness;

3 and because of it is obliged, just as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 And no one takes this honor to himself, but being called by God, just as Aaron also was.

5 So Christ also did not glorify himself to become high priest, but he that spoke to him, You are my Son, Today I have begotten you:

6 as he says also in another place, You are a priest for ever according to the succession of Melchizedek.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up both prayers and supplications with strong outcry and tears to him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his reverence,

8 though being a Son, yet learned obedience from the things which he suffered;

9 and having been perfected (i.e., made complete), he became to all them that obey him the cause of eternal salvation;

10 Having been called by God a high priest according to the succession of Melchizedek.

11 About whom we have much to say, and hard to interpret, since YOU have become lazy of hearing.

12 For when, considering the time, YOU ought to be teachers, YOU have need again that someone teach you the basics of the beginning of the words of God; and have become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.

13 For every one who partakes of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness; for he is a baby.

14 But solid food is for the complete, those who through use have exercised their senses to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 6

1 Therefore, having left the beginning doctrine of Christ, may we go on to completion; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 of teaching of baptisms, and laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permits.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, having tasted of the heavenly gift, and having been partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 and tasted the good spoken word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

6 and having fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which has drunk the rain that comes often upon it, and gives birth vegetation suitable for them for whom it is also tilled, receives back a blessing from God:

8 but bearing thorns and thistles, it is reprobate (disapproved, rejected, worthless) and near to a curse; whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we have been persuaded better things of YOU, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking this way:

10 for God is not unrighteous so as to forget YOUR work and the love which YOU showed for his name, having ministered to the saints, and still ministering.

11 But we desire that each one of YOU may show the same diligence to the fulfillment of the hope until the end:

12 so that YOU don’t become lazy, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God promised to Abraham, since he had no greater by which to swear, he swore by himself,

14 saying, Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.

15 And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

17 In which God, wishing to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;

18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us:

19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stable and entering into that which is within the veil;

20 where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever according to the succession of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tithe (i.e., a tenth) of all things, is first translated ‘King of righteousness,’ but then also King of Salem, which is ‘King of peace;’

3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest perpetually.

4 But see how great this one was, to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tithe out of the best of the spoils.

5 And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest's office have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, having come out of the loins of Abraham:

6 but he whose genealogy is not traced from them has taken tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him that has the promises.

7 But beyond any dispute the less is blessed by the better.

8 And here indeed dying men receive tithes; but there, one, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

9 And, so to speak, through Abraham, even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes;

10 for he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

11 Therefore if perfection were indeed through the Levitical priesthood --for by it the people received the law--, what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the succession of Melchizedek, and not said to be according to the succession of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is, of necessity, a change of the law happening also.

13 For he of whom these things are being said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has given attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord has sprung up out of Judah; for which tribe Moses spoke nothing about priests.

15 And it is even more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,

16 who has come to be, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of indestructible life:

17 for it is being testified: You are a priest for ever according to the succession of Melchizedek.

18 For indeed a cancellation of an earlier commandment occurs because of its weakness and uselessness,

19 for the law perfected nothing, but bringing in on it a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20 And to the extent that it was not without an oath

21 --for they indeed have become priests without an oath--, but he became a priest with an oath sworn by him that says of him, The Lord swore and will not take it back (literally “care afterwards,” that is, “change his mind or regret it”), You are a priest for ever;

22 by so much also has Jesus become the surety of a better testament.

23 And indeed more have become priests, because other priests are prevented by death from continuing:

24 but he, because he remains forever, has the priesthood without successors (literally, “untransferrable”).

25 And therefore he is able to completely save those who are coming to God through him, living always to intercede for them.

26 For such a high priest was fitting for us, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 who, unlike the high priests, does not need to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people: for he did this once for all, when he offered himself up.

28 For the law appoints men high priests having weakness; but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, perfected forever.

Hebrews 8

1 Now the main point of what’s been said is this: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

2 a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices: so it is necessary that this one also have something to offer.

4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the law;

5 who serve in a type and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was divinely advised when he was about to complete the tabernacle: for, See, he says, that you make all things according to the pattern that was shown to you in the mountain.

6 But now he has obtained a very different ministry, insomuch as he is also the mediator of a better testament, which has been enacted upon better promises.

7 For if that first testament had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

8 For finding fault with them, he says, Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, and I will conclude a new testament with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;

9 Not according to the testament that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my testament, and I showed no interest in them, says the Lord.

10 For this is the testament that I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, And I will write them on their hearts: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people:

11 And they will not teach every man his fellow-citizen, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: because they will all know me, from the smallest to the biggest of them.

12 For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will not remember their sins any more.

13 In saying, “new” he has made the first one “old.” But the one that is being made obsolete and growing old is near to vanishing.

Hebrews 9

1 Now of course the first testament also had ordinances of divine service, and a sanctuary of this world.

2 For a tabernacle was constructed: the first, in which were the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread, which is called the Holy Place.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies;

4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the testament overlaid all around with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the testament;

5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things now is not the time to speak individually.

6 But these things having been thus constructed, the priests go regularly into the first tabernacle, completing the services;

7 but into the second, the high priest alone, once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people:

8 the Holy Spirit is making it evident that the way into the Holy of Holies had not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle was still standing;

9 which is an illustration for the time present; according to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot make the server perfect according to conscience,

10 being only with foods and drinks and various immersions, ordinances of flesh, imposed until a time of reforming.

11 But Christ having come to be high priest of the good things that have come through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,

12 nor through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered into the Holy of Holies once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling the ashes of a heifer on them that have been defiled, sanctifies to cleanness of the flesh:

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to render service to the living God?

15 And for this reason he is the mediator of a new testament, so that, a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they that have been called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

16 For where there is a testament, there must, of necessity, be the death of the one who made it.

17 For a testament is in effect for the dead: since it is not in force while the one who covenanted it is alive.

18 Therefore not even the first testament was instituted without blood.

19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people,

20 saying, This is the blood of the testament which God charged toward YOU.

21 And likewise he also sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.

22 And according to the law, nearly all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ did not enter into a Holy of Holies made with hands, antitype of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:

25 but not in order to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies each year with the blood of another;

26 otherwise he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages he has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And inasmuch as it is appointed to men to die once, and after this, judgment;

28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, into salvation.

Hebrews 10

1 For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices each year, which they offer continually, make those who approach perfect.

2 Otherwise wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered? because the servers, having been once and for all cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins every year.

4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Therefore, coming into the world, he says, You did not want sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me;

6 You did not approve of whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin:

7 Then I said, Look! I am come; in the roll of the book it is written about me: To do your will, O God.

8 Saying above (that is, further up in the book), that you didn’t want or approve of sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin, which are offered according to the law,

9 then he has said, Look! I am come to do your will. He is taking away the first, in order that he may establish the second.

10 By which we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest indeed has stood each day ministering and offering the same sacrifices many, many times, which are never able to take away sins:

12 but he, having offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down in the right hand of God;

13 from now on waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.

14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever those who are sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for afterward he has said,

16 ‘This is the testament that I will covenant toward them: After those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and I will write them upon their mind; (Some manuscripts add the words “afterwards, it says” at the beginning of v. 17.)

17 And their sins and their iniquities I will not remember any more.’

18 And where there is forgiveness of these, there is no more offering for sin.

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness for entry into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus,

20 which entry he instituted for us, a new and living way through the veil, that is, his flesh;

21 and having a great priest over the house of God;

22 let us approach with a true heart in full confidence of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body bathed with clean water,

23 let us hold fast the profession of hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful:

24 and let us consider one another, to incite love and good works;

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is, but encouraging; and all the more so, as YOU see the day drawing near.

26 For our willfully sinning, after we have received the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,

27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a heat of fire which will consume the adversaries.

28 Anyone who disregarded the Law of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:

29 of how much worse punishment, do YOU think, will he be counted worthy, who has trampled down the Son of God, and has considered the blood of the testament, with which he was sanctified, common, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But keep remembering the former days, in which, having been enlightened, YOU endured a great struggle of sufferings;

33 by being exposed as a spectacle both by taunts and tribulations, but also by becoming partakers with them that were so used.

34 For YOU both had sympathy for those in bonds, and took the plundering of YOUR possessions with joy, knowing that YOU have for YOURSELVES a better and enduring possession.

35 Therefore, YOU should not throw away YOUR boldness, which has a great recompense of reward.

36 For YOU have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, YOU may receive the promise.

37 For yet a very little while, He is coming will come, and will not delay.

38 But my righteous one will live by faith: And if he should shrink back, my soul does not approve of him.

39 But we are not of them that shrink back into destruction, but of faith into the preservation of the soul.

Hebrews 11

1 Now faith is the essence of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders had witness borne to them.

3 By faith we understand that the ages have been completed by the spoken word of God, so that what is seen has come to be out of things which do not appear.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, through which faith he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he, being dead, is still speaking.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he would not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he had witness borne to him before his translation that he had pleased God well:

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him well; for the one who comes to God must believe that he is, and he becomes a rewarder of those who seek him out.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, constructed an ark for the salvation of his household; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he became a foreigner in the land of promise, as in land belonging to another, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the joint heirs of the same promise:

10 for he was waiting for the city having foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith also Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

12 therefore also from one, and that one almost dead, were generated as many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand by the sea-shore, innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.

14 For they that say such things make it plain that they are seeking a fatherland.

15 And if indeed they were remembering that place from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to turn back.

16 But now they are reaching out for a better one, that is, a heavenly one: therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, being tested, offered Isaac: he that had received the promises was offering the only begotten;

18 to whom it was said, that through Isaac your seed will be called:

19 having reasoned that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from where he did also, in a manner of speaking (literally “in an illustration”), receive him back.

20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, near death, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and charged them concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a handsome child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy sin for a season;

26 considering the derision for Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he was looking for the recompense of reward.

27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king: for he was steadfast, as though seeing the One who is not seen.

28 By faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land: which the Egyptians trying to do were swallowed up.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, having been encircled for seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the ones who disobeyed, having received the spies with peace.

32 And what more can I say? for time will fail me for telling about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; and David and Samuel and the prophets:

33 who through faith overcame kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, closed the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were empowered from weakness, became strong in war, turned back battle-arrays of foreigners,

35 women received their dead by resurrection. But others were tortured, not accepting deliverance by ransom; so they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 and others received trial of mockings and floggings, but also of bonds and prison:

37 they were stoned, they were tried (or tempted), they were sawn in two, they died murdered by sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; in poverty, afflicted, ill-treated,

38 --of whom the world was not worthy--, made to wander in deserts and mountains and caves and caverns of the earth.

39 And these all, having had witness borne to them through faith, did not receive the promise,

40 God having foreseen something better for us, that apart from us, they would not be made perfect.

Hebrews 12

1 Therefore we also, having so great a cloud of witnesses around us, putting off every weight and the sin which so easily trips us up, let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

2 looking to Jesus the author and completer of the faith, who because of the joy that lay before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider the one who has endured such opposition (literally “speaking against”) from sinners against themselves, that YOU don’t get weary to the point that YOUR souls give out.

4 YOU have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin:

5 and YOU have forgotten the encouragement which reasons with you as with sons, My son, do not think lightly of the Lord’s discipline, nor give out when you are convicted by him;

6 For whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and flogs every son whom he receives.

7 For discipline YOU endure; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom (his) father does not discipline?

8 But if YOU are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then YOU are bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to discipline us, and we respected them: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they indeed for a few days disciplined as seemed good to them; but he for our advantage, that we may partake of his holiness.

11 Certainly all discipline seems for the present not to be of joy but of grief; but afterward it yields peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that have been exercised by it.

12 Therefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the paralyzed knees;

13 and make straight paths for YOUR feet, so that the lame might not be turned away, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all, and the holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

15 watching carefully that no one is deficient in the grace of God; that no root of bitterness, sprouting up, crowd in, and many would be defiled by it;

16 that no one is a fornicator or profane, like Esau, who for one meal gave away his own birthright.

17 For YOU also know that afterward, wanting to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

18 For YOU have not come to a mountain that is able to be touched, and that burned with fire, and a dark cloud, and thick darkness, and a storm,

19 and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which they that heard begged off, that no further word be spoken to them;

20 for they would not bear what was being given. If even a wild animal touch the mountain, it would be stoned;

21 and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I am fearful and trembling.

22 But YOU have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to angels numbered in the ten thousands,

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous ones made perfect,

24 and to Jesus the mediator of a new testament, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than Abel’s.

25 See to it that YOU do not beg off from the one speaking. For if they did not escape when they begged off from the one giving divine warning on earth, much less we who turn away from the one who warns from heaven:

26 whose voice shook the earth then: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I will shake not the only earth, but also the heaven.

27 Now this expression ‘Yet once more’ signifies the removal of the things being shaken, as of things that have been made, so that those things which are not shaken might remain.

28 Therefore, receiving an unshakeable kingdom, let us have grace, by which we may offer well-pleasing service to God with reverence and awe:

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 13

1 Let brotherly love continue.

2 Do not forget love for strangers (i.e., hospitality): for through it, some have unknowingly been hosts to angels.

3 Remember those in bonds, as though bound with them; those ill-treated, as though being in the same body.

4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed is undefiled: for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.

5 Don’t let YOUR way of life be the love of money, making do with what is now: for he himself has said, I will by no means leave you, nor will I by any means abandon you.

6 So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What can man do to me?

7 Remember the ones that govern you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the outcome of their behavior, imitate their faith.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for ever.

9 Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by foods, by which the followers themselves were not profited.

10 We have an altar, from which they that serve the tabernacle have no authority to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy of Holies by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside the gate.

13 So let us go out to him outside the camp, bearing the derision he endured.

14 For we do not have here a continuing city, but we are seeking the one to come.

15 Through him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips professing his name.

16 But don’t forget to do good and to fellowship: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey the ones governing YOU, and yield to them: for they themselves watch (literally “abstain from sleep”) over YOUR souls, as they will give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this would not be advantageous for YOU.

18 Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves well in all things.

19 But I encourage YOU to do this more abundantly, that I might be more quickly restored to YOU.

20 But the God of peace, who brought from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal testament, our Lord Jesus,

21 complete YOU in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22 But I am encouraging YOU, brethren, bear with the word of encouragement, for I have written to YOU in few words.

23 Know that our brother Timothy has been released; with whom, if he comes soon, I will see YOU.

24 Greet all those governing YOU, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet YOU.

25 Grace be with all of YOU. (Some manuscripts add: “Amen.”)