The Letter to the

HEBREWS

Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

The Letter to the
HEBREWS

The Son of God

11Although in many portions and in many ways God had spoken long ago to the fathers by the prophets, 2he has at the last of these days1 spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the universe.2 3He is the radiance of [God's] glory and an exact imprint of his essence, and is upholding all things by the word of his power. When he had made a cleansing of3 sins, he sat down at the right [hand] of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much better than the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

The Son Better than the Angels

5For to which of the angels did God ever say,

"You are my Son,
today I have fathered you"?4

And again,

"I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son"?5
6And again, [referring to] whenever he would bring6 the first-born into the inhabited [earth], he says,
"And all God's angels must worship him."7
7And indeed with reference to the angels he says,
"The One who makes his angels winds,8
and his ministers a flame of fire."9
8But with reference to the Son [he says],
"Your throne, O God, [is]10 forever and ever,
and the scepter of uprightness [is] the scepter of your11 kingdom.
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1Other manuscripts read these last days
2Lit., ages
3Other manuscripts add our
4Ps. 2:7
52 Sam. 7:14
6Or, And [referring to] whenever he should again bring
7Deut. 32:43 LXX; Ps. 97:7
8Lit., spirits
9Ps. 104:4
10Or, Your throne [is] God
11Other ancient manuscripts read his

Hebrews 1

9You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;12
therefore God, your God, has13 anointed you
with the oil of great joy rather than your companions."14
10And,
"You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;
11they will perish, but you remain;
and they will all become old like a cloak [does],
12and as a wrap you will roll them up,
like a cloak,15 and they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will not fail."16
13But with reference to which of the angels has he ever said,
"Sit at my right [hand],
until I put your enemies
[as] a footstool for your feet"?17
14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to [do] service for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Warning Against Drifting Away

21Because of this, we have to pay even more attention to the things that we have heard, lest we drift away [from them]. 2For if the word spoken through angels was valid1 and every transgression and disobedience received a just retribution, 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It had its beginning by being spoken through the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard [him], 4while God also was testifying by signs and wonders and various miracles and by distributions of the Holy Spirit [given out] according to his [own] will.

The Humanity of Jesus

5For [it was] not to angels [that God] subjected the future habitation, about which we are speaking. 6But someone has testified somewhere, saying,

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12Other ancient manuscripts read unrighteousness
13Or, therefore, O God, your God has
14Ps. 45:6-7
15Other ancient manuscripts omit like a cloak
16Ps. 102:25-27
17Ps. 110:1
1Lit., firm

Hebrews 2

"What is man that you remember him,
or the son of man, that you visit him?
7You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor,2
8you put all things in subjection underneath his feet."3

For in putting all things in subjection to him, he left nothing unsubjected to him. But now, we do not yet see all things put in subjection to him. 9But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God4 he might taste death for everyone.

10For it was fitting for him, because of whom all things [exist] and through whom all things [exist], in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all [come] from One. For this reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12saying,

"I will declare your name to my brothers,
in the midst of the congregation I will sing hymns [of praise] to you."5
13And again,
"I will put my trust in him."6

And again,

"Behold, [here am] I, and the children whom God has given me."7
14Since therefore the children have shared in flesh and blood, he himself also similarly partook of the same [nature], so that through [his] death he might do away with the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and release as many of those as who through fear of death were subject to slavery throughout all [their] life. 16For surely [it is] not with angels [that] he is concerned but he is concerned with the offspring of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to be made like [his] brothers in all respects, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the [priestly service] to God, in order to make propitiation8 for the sins of the people. 18For in that he himself has suffered
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2Other ancient manuscripts insert and set him over the works of your hands
3Ps. 8:4-6
4Other manuscripts read so that without God
5Ps. 22:22
6Is. 8:17
7Is. 8:18 8That is, to offer a sacrifice to turn away God's anger by covering over sin

Hebrews 2

when he was tempted,9 he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus More Worthy than Moses

31Therefore, holy brothers, partners in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2He was faithful to the One who appointed1 him, just as Moses also [was faithful] in all2 God's3 house. 3For this [Jesus] has been considered worthy of more glory than Moses, by just as much as the one who has constructed a house4 has more honor than the house. 4(For every house is constructed by someone, but the One who has constructed all things [is] God.) 5And Moses [was] faithful in God's3 house as a caretaker, for a testimony to the things that were to be spoken [later], 6but Christ [was faithful] over God's3 house as a son. [And] we are his house if we hold fast [our] boldness and the boast [that we have] of [our] hope.5

Warning Against Unbelief

7That is why, just as the Holy Spirit says,

"Today, if you hear his voice,
8do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9where your fathers tested [me] in an ordeal6
and saw my works for forty years.
10That is why I was disgusted with that generation,
and said, 'They always go astray in [their] heart;
and they have not known my ways.'
11As I swore in my wrath,
'They shall not enter7 into my rest.'"8
12Look out, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, [leading that one] to fall away from the living God. 13But keep exhorting yourselves each and every day, as long as it is
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9Or, For since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered
1Lit., made
2Other ancient manuscripts omit all
3Lit., his
4Lit., it
5Other ancient manuscripts add firm until the end
6Or, an examination; other ancient manuscripts read tested me, examining me
7Lit., If they shall enter
8Ps. 95:7-11

Hebrews 3

called "today," lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have become partners with Christ,9 if indeed we hold fast to the confidence [we had] at the beginning, firm until the end, 15while it is being said,
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."10
16For who were those that heard and [yet] were rebellious? In fact, [was it] not all those who came out of Egypt through [the leadership of] Moses? 17And with whom was he disgusted for forty years? [Was it] not with those who sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did he swear that they would not enter into his rest, if [it] was not to those who were disobedient? 19And [so] we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

A Sabbath Rest for the People of God

41Therefore, while a promise of entering into his rest is left, let us fear lest any of you may seem to have fallen short [of it]. 2For indeed, we have had good news proclaimed [to us] just as they also [did]; but the word which they heard did not profit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.1 3For2 we who have believed enter into that rest, just as he has said,

"As I swore in my wrath,
'They shall not enter3 into my rest,'"4

although [his] works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he has somewhere spoken about the seventh [day] in this way, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."5 5And again in this [place he said],

"They shall not enter3 into my rest."4
6Since therefore it remains for some to enter into it, and those to whom the good news was formerly proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience, 7again he sets a certain day, "Today,"
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9Or, have been given a share of Christ
10Ps. 95:7-8
1Other ancient manuscripts read it was not united with faith within those who heard
2Other ancient manuscripts read Therefore; a few read But
3Lit., If they shall enter
4Ps. 95:11
5Gen. 2:2

Hebrews 4

saying in [the Psalms of] David after so long a time, just as it has been previously said,
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."6
8For if Joshua had given them rest, [God] would not be speaking after this about another day. 9So there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; 10for the one who has entered into God's rest7 has also himself rested from his works, just as God [did] from [his] own. 11Let us therefore make a diligent effort to enter into that rest, lest anyone should fall by [following] the same example of disobedience.

12For the word of God [is] living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and [is] able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13And there is no creature that is not apparent in his sight, but all things [are] naked and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to reckon.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us keep holding to [our] confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in all respects has been tempted in a way like [we are], [yet] without [committing] sin. 16Let us therefore keep coming with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need.

51For every high priest taken from among men is appointed [to act] on behalf of men in the [priestly service] to God, so that he may be offering both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can be dealing in moderation with the ignorant and straying, since he himself also is surrounded by weakness. 3And because of this he is obligated to keep offering [sacrifices] for sins: just as for the people, so also for himself. 4And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as indeed Aaron [was].

5So also Christ did not glorify himself to be made a high priest, but [was appointed by] the One who said to him,

"You are my Son,
today I have fathered you";1
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6Ps. 95:7-8
7Lit., his
1Ps. 2:7

Hebrews 5

6as he says also in another [place],
"You [are] a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek."2
7In the days of his flesh, Jesus3 offered up both petitions and supplications, with strong cries and tears, to the One who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of [his] devout fear. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered; 9and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him, 10being designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Warning Against Falling Away

11About this4 we have much to say and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For even though by [this] time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elements of the first principles5 of the oracles of God, and you have come to have need for milk, not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes [only] of milk [is] unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14But solid food is for the mature, for those who by practice have [their] senses trained to distinguish both good and evil.

61Therefore let us leave the word about the first principles1 of Christ and move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2of teaching2 about baptizings,3 and of the laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this we will do if God permits.4 4For [it is] impossible to renew again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the

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Chapter 5: 2Ps. 110:4
3Lit., who
4Or, him
5Lit., beginning
Chapter 6: 1Lit., beginning
2Other ancient manuscripts read [that is], teaching
3Greek baptismos means immersing
4Other ancient manuscripts read let us do this if God permits

Hebrews 6

future age, 6and who have [then] fallen away, since5 they are recrucifying6 the Son of God to themselves and exposing [him] to public disgrace. 7For land which has drunk the rain that often comes upon it, and brings forth vegetation fit for those for whose sake it is indeed being farmed, receives a blessing from God. 8But if it bears thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to [receiving] a curse; its end [is] to be burned.

9But, beloved, concerning you we are persuaded of things that are better and [that] have [to do with] salvation, even though we are speaking like this. 10For God [is] not [so] unjust as to forget your work and the love7 which you showed for his name, since you served the saints and [still] are serving [them]. 11But we desire each [one] of you to keep showing the same diligence toward [realizing] the full assurance of hope until the end, 12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God's Promise

13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, 14saying, "Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply you many times."8 15And thus [Abraham], having been patient, obtained the promise. 16For men swear by a greater [than themselves], and in every dispute among them an oath [is] final for confirmation. 17Because of this, when God intended to show even more [clearly] to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his intention, he interposed with an oath, 18so that through two unchangeable things, in which [it is] impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge may have strong encouragement to hold to9 the hope set before [us]. 19We have this as an anchor of the soul, both secure and firm and that enters into the inner [sanctuary] behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has entered [as] a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

The Better Priesthood of Melchizedek

71For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 2and to him Abraham apportioned a

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5Or, while
6Or, crucifying up
7Other ancient manuscripts read and the labor of love
8Gen. 22:17; lit., Surely blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you
9Or, take hold of

Hebrews 7

tenth [part] of everything. [He is] first, by translation [of his name], king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, that is king of peace. 3[He is] without father, without mother, without genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he remains a priest continually.1

4Now observe how great this one [is] to whom even2 Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth3 of the spoils. 5And those from among the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment to take tithes from the people in accordance with the law, that is, from their brothers, though [these also] have come from the body4 of Abraham. 6But [this] one whose genealogy is not traced from them has taken tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who has the promises. 7Now [it is] without any dispute [that] the lesser is blessed by the better. 8And here, men who will die receive tithes; but there, [it is] testified [of the one who received them] that he lives. 9And one might even say that Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10for he was still in the body4 of his father when Melchizedek met him.

11Therefore if perfection had been [attainable] through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need [would there have been] for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned in the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there takes place of necessity a change of [the] law also. 13For the one of whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, from which no one has [ever] officiated at the altar. 14For [it is] evident that our Lord has risen out of Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses spoke nothing about priests. 15And [this] is yet even more evident if there arises in the likeness of Melchizedek another priest, 16who has become [a priest], not on the basis of a law with a commandment about fleshly [descent] but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is testified [of him],

"You [are] a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek."5
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1Lit., into the continuous
2Other ancient manuscripts omit even
3Or, tithe
4Lit., abdomen
5Ps. 110:4

Hebrews 7

18For on the one hand, there is an annulment of a former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness 19(for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope [is] introducted, through which we come near to God.

20And inasmuch as [it was] not without an oath 21(for indeed they have become priests without an oath, but he [became one] with an oath, through the One who said to him,

"The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
'You [are] a priest forever'"6),
22by so much [the more] also Jesus has become the guarentee of a better covenant.

23And the [former] priests were many [in number], because they were prevented by death from continuing [in office]; 24but because he continues forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able also to save absolutely7 those who come to God through him, since he always lives to be interceding for them.

26For it was fitting for us [to have] such a high priest; devout, without malice, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. 27He has no necessity, like [those] high priests, to keep offering up sacrifices every day, first for [his] own sins [and] then for those of the people; for he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28For the law appoints men [as] high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which [came] after the law, [appoints] a Son who has been made perfect forever.

The Better New Covenant

81Now the significant point in the things we are saying [is this]: we have such a high priest, who sat down at the right [hand] of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2a minister of the Holy Place and the true tabernacle1 which the Lord set up, not man. 3For every high priest is appointed in order to be offering both gifts and sacrifices; therefore [it is] necessary for this [priest] also to have something to offer. 4Now then, if he were on earth, he would not be a priest [at all], since there are those2 who offer the gifts according to the law. 5They serve a copy and shadow

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6Ps. 110:4; other ancient manuscripts add according to the order of Melchizedek
7Or, for all time
1Or, tent
2Other manuscripts read priests

Hebrews 8

of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle;1 for [God] says, "See [that] you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain."2 6But now, [Christ] has obtained a ministry which is more excellent by as much as he is also mediator of a better covenant, which is enacted on better promises.

7For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, no place would have been sought for the second. 8For he finds fault with them and says:3

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah;
9not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
because they did not continue in my covenant,
and [so] I neglected them, says the Lord.
10For this [is] the covenant that I will issue to the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws into their mind,
and inscribe them on their hearts,
and I will be to them God,
and they shall be to me a people.
11And they each shall not teach his fellow-citizen4
and each his brother, saying, 'Come to know the Lord,'
because all shall know me,
from the least to the greatest of them.
12Because I will be merciful5 toward their acts of unrighteousness,
and I will remember their sins6 no more."7
13In saying "a new [covenant]," he treats the first as old. And what is becoming old and growing aged [is] nearly ready to disappear.
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1Or, tent
2Ex. 25:40
3Other ancient manuscripts read finds fault and says to them
4Other manuscripts read neighbor
5Lit., propitious, that is, turn away anger
6Other ancient manuscripts add and the acts of lawlessness
7Jer. 31:31-34 (LXX 38:31-34)

Hebrews 9

The Better Heavenly Holy Place

91Now then, even1 the first [covenant] had righteous requirements for service and the Holy Place in [this] world. 2For a tabernacle2 was constructed, the first [room], in which [were] the lampstand and the table and the presentation bread; it is called the Holy Place. 3And behind the second curtain [was] a tabernacle2 which was called the Holy of Holies, 4having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which [were] a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5and above it [were] the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercyseat.3 About these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6Now these things having been constructed like this, the priests go at all times into the first tabernacle,2 performing the services; 7but into the second the high priest alone [goes], [and that only] once a year, [and] not without [taking] blood which he offers for himself and [for] the [sins of] ignorance of the people. 8The Holy Spirit indicates this, that the way into the Holy Place is not yet apparent while the first tabernacle2 is still standing 9(which [is] a symbol4 for the present time). In accordance with this, both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the one serving with respect to his conscience, 10[but deal] only with foods and drinks and different immersings, righteous requirements for the flesh imposed until the time of reformation.

11But when Christ came [as] a high priest of the good things that have happened,5 [then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle2 (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking6 not the blood of he-goats and calves but taking6 [his] own blood, [thus] obtaining an eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of he-goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on defiled [persons] sanctify for the [ritual] cleanness of the flesh, 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit7 offered

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1Other ancient manuscripts omit even
2Or, tent
3Lit., a place of propitiation, that is, a place of sacrificial offering to turn away God's anger by covering over sin
4Lit., parable
5Other ancient manuscripts read the future good things
6Lit., through
7Other ancient manuscripts read the Holy Spirit

Hebrews 9

himself without blemish to God, cleanse our8 conscience from dead works in order to serve the living God.

The Better Sacrifice of Christ

15And because of this he is the mediator of a new covenant,9 that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place for the redemption from the transgressions under the first covenant.7 16For where a will9 [takes effect], [there is] a necessity for the death of the one who made it to be established. 17For a will9 [becomes] valid [only] at death, since it is never10 in force while the one who made it is [still] living. 18Therefore even the first [covenant] was not dedicated without blood. 19For when every commandment of the law had been spoken by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and he-goats,11 with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, "This [is] the blood of the covenant which God commanded you."12 21And likewise he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle2 and all the vessels of the ministry. 22Indeed, according to the law almost everything is cleansed by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [of sins].

23Therefore [there was] a necessity for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these [rites], but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ has entered, not into the Holy Place made with hands, an antitype of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25Nor [was it] so that he might keep offering himself many times, just as the high priest enters into the Holy Place every year with blood belonging to another; 26since [then] it would have been necessary for him to suffer many times from the foundation of the world. But now, he has appeared once for all at the completion of the ages to put away sin through the sacrifice of himself. 27And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that [comes] judgment, 28so also Christ, having been offered once in order to bear

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2Or, tent
8Other ancient manuscripts read your
9The same Greek word used here is translated both covenant and will
10Two ancient manuscripts read not then
11Other ancient manuscripts omit and he-goats
12Ex. 24:8

Hebrews 9

the sins of many, will appear a second time, without [any relation to] sin, but for the salvation of those who are waiting for him.

101For since the law has [only] a shadow of the future good things [and] not the image itself of1 these things, it2 can never, by the same sacrifices which they continually3 offer every year, make perfect those who come to [God]. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? [This is] because if those who serve had once been cleansed, they would no longer have [any] consciousness of sin. 3But in these [sacrifices there is] a reminder of sins every year. 4For [it is] impossible for the blood of bulls and he-goats to take away sins.

5Therefore, when [Christ] came into the world, he said,

"Sacrifice and offering you did not wish for,
but a body you did prepare for me;
6with burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin you were not pleased.
7Then I said, 'Behold, I have come' (in the roll of the book it is written about me)
'to do your will, O God.'"4
8When he said above, "Sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sins you did not wish for nor were you pleased with"5 (these are offered according to the law), 9then he [also] said, "Behold, I have come to do your will."6 He takes away the first so that he may establish the second. 10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11And every priest7 stands every day ministering and offering the same sacrifices many times, which can never take away sins. 12But when this [priest] had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time,3 he sat down at the right [hand] of God, 13from then on to wait until his enemies should be put [as] a footstool for his feet. 14For by one offering he has perfected for all time3 those who are being sanctified.

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1One ancient authority reads things and the image of
2Other ancient manuscripts read they
3Lit., into the continuous
4Ps. 40:6-8
5Ps. 40:6
6Ps. 40:7-8; other ancient manuscripts add O God
7Other ancient manuscripts read high priest

Hebrews 10

15And the Holy Spirit also testifies [the same thing] to us; for after having said,

16"This [is] the covenant that I will issue to them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and inscribe them on their mind,"8
17[then he adds],
"And I will remember their sins and their acts of lawlessness no more."9
18Now where [there is] forgiveness of these, [there is] no longer [any] offering for sin.

Warning Against Deliberately Sinning

19Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way which he dedicated for us through the curtain, that is, [through] his flesh, 21and [since we have] a great priest over the house of God, 22let us keep coming to [God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with [our] hearts sprinkled [to purify us] from an evil conscience and [our] body bathed in clean water. 23Let us keep holding fast the confession of [our] hope without wavering, for the One who promised [is] faithful; 24and let us keep considering how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not forsaking our gathering [at church], as [is] the custom of some, but encouraging [one another], and so much the more as you see the Day coming near.

26For if we deliberately keep sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fiery zeal which will consume the adversaries. 28A man who has broken the law of Moses dies without compassion on [evidence from] two or three witnesses. 29Of how much worse punishment do you think the one will be considered worthy who has trodden underfoot the Son of God, and considered the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified [to be] defiled, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know the One who has said, "Vengeance [is] mine, I will repay."10 And again, "The Lord will judge his people."11 31[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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8Jer. 31:33
9Jer. 31:34
10Deut. 32:35; other ancient manuscripts add says the Lord
11Deut. 32:36

Hebrews 10

32But keep remembering the former days in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great conflict with sufferings, 33sometimes being made a specticle both by reproaches and afflictions, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34For indeed you showed sympathy to the prisoners,12 and you accepted the plundering of your belongings with joy, since you know that you yourselves have13 better and abiding belongings.14 35Therefore do not throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may get what is promised.

37"For yet a very little while,
and the coming One shall come and shall not take [his] time;
38but my righteous one15 shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back
my soul is not pleased with him."16
39But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preservation of [their] soul.

Examples of Faith

111Now faith is confident assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old1 were well testified of.

3By faith we understand that the universe2 has been prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which appear.

4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was testified that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts;3 and although he died, through faith4 he is still speaking. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; "and he was not found, because God had taken him up."5 For before he was taken up he had been testified to as having "pleased God."5 6And without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]. For the one who

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12Other ancient manuscripts read sympathy in my imprisonment
13Other ancient manuscripts read you had for yourselves; a few read you had
14Other ancient manuscripts add in heaven
15Other ancient manuscripts read the righteous one
16Hab. 2:3-4; also Is. 26:20 LXX
1Lit., the elders
2Lit., ages
3Other ancient manuscripts read righteous, testifying about his gifts to God
4Lit., it
5Gen. 5:24

Hebrews 11

comes to God has to believe that he is and [that] he is a rewarder of those who seek him. 7By faith Noah, being warned [by God] about things that were not yet seen, was moved with devout fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; through this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness [which comes] by faith.

8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was going to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in a land] belonging to others, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was waiting for the city which has the foundations, whose architect and maker [is] God. 11By faith even barren6 Sarah herself received power to conceive seed,7 even [when she was] beyond [that] season of age, since she considered faithful the One who had promised. 12Therefore also from one [man], and him as good as dead, were born [descendants as many] in multitude as the stars of heaven and [as] innumerable as the sand by the seashore.

13These all died in faith, not having gotten the things that were promised, but having seen and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it apparent that they are seeking a homeland. 15And if they had been remembering that [country] from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now, they aspire to a better country, 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.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and [thus] the one who had received the promises started to offer up his only unique [son], 18with reference to whom is was said, "In Isaac they will be called your offspring."8 19He took into account that God [was] able to raise [people] even from the dead; therefore, symbolically speaking,9 he also got him back. 20By faith also Issac blessed Jacob and Esau about things in the future. 21By faith Jacob, when dying,

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6Other ancient manuscripts omit barren
7Lit., for the foundation of seed; or, By faith, even [though] Sarah herself [was] barren, he received power to produce seed
8Gen. 21:12
9Lit., in a parable

Hebrews 11

blessed each of the sons of Joseph, "and bowed in worship over the top of his staff."10 22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave a command concerning [the burial] of his bones.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw [that] the child [was] beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's order.11 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25perferring rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin. 26He considered reproach for the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for he persevered as seeing the One who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the pouring of the blood, so that the Destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.

29By faith [the people] passed through the Red Sea as though through dry land; but when the Egyptians tried [it], they were swallowed up. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, since she had received the spies with peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to relate about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel and the prophets—33who through faith conquered kingdoms, worked righeousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, received power from weakness, became strong in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received their dead by resurrection. But others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36[Still] others received a testing of mockings and whippings, and still more, bonds and jail. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two,12 they died from murder by the sword; they went about in sheepskins and in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over wildernesses and mountains, and [in] caves and holes of the earth.

39And all these, though well testified of through [their] faith, did not get what was promised, 40since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

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10Gen. 47:31 LXX
11A few ancient manuscripts add By faith Moses, having grown up, killed the Egyptian when he observed the humiliation of his brothers
12Other ancient manuscripts add they were tempted

Hebrews 12

The Example of Christ

121Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,1 and let us keep running with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right [hand] of the throne of God. 3For consider the One who endured such opposition by sinners against himself,2 so that you may not become fatigued, fainting in your souls. 4You have not yet resisted to the point of [shedding your] blood in [your] struggle against sin.

The Discipline of the Lord

5And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons?—

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor faint when you are reproved by him.
6For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves,
and whips every son whom he accepts."3
7[It is] for discipline [that] you endure.4 God is treating you as sons; for what son [is there] whom [his] father does not discipline? 8But if you are [left] without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Furthermore, we used to have the fathers of our flesh to discipline [us] and we kept respecting [them]. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they were disciplining [us] for a few days as it seemed [good] to them, but he [disciplines us] for [our] benefit, in order that we may share his holiness. 11For the present all discipline seems not a thing of joy but of sorrow; but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained through it.

12Therefore stiffen [your] drooping hands and weak knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is crippled may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

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1A few ancient manuscripts read which easily distracts
2Other ancient manuscripts read themselves; one omits against himself
3Prov. 3:11-12
4Or, You must endure for discipline

Hebrews 12

Warning Against Refusing God

14Keep pursuing peace with all [people], and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" grows up5 and causes trouble, and through it the many be polluted; 16that no one [be] a sexually immoral or a profane person like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17For you know that even afterward when he wished to inherit the blessing he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears.

18For you have not come to what6 may be felt of, and a burning fire, and blackness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice [speaking] words. Those who heard [it] begged7 that [voice] to speak no further word to them. 20For they could not bear the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."8 21Indeed, so fearful was the appearance [that] Moses said, "I am very much afraid and trembling."9 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ten thousands of angels in festal gathering, 23and to the church10 of the first-born who have been registered in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just [men] made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel.

25Look out that you do not refuse the One who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused the One who warned [them] on earth, much less [shall] we [escape] if we turn away from the One [who warns] from heaven. 26His voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will cause not only the earth to quake but also the heaven."11 27Now the [phrase], "Yet once more," indicates the removal of the things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, so that the things that are not shaken may remain. 28Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have gratitude, through which we may keep

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5Deut. 29:18 LXX
6Other ancient manuscripts read to a mountain that
7The same Greek word is translated refuse in verse 25.
8Ex. 19:13
9Deut. 9:19
10Or, angels, to the festal gathering and church
11Hag. 2:6

Hebrews 12

serving God in a way pleasing [to him], with devotion and awe; 29for indeed our God [is] a consuming fire.

Concluding Exhortations

131Brotherly love must continue. 2Do not forget [to show] hospitality [to strangers], for through this some have entertained angels unaware [of it]. 3Keep remembering those who are prisoners, as [though] bound with [them]; [and] those who are ill-treated, as you yourselves also are in the body. 4Marriage [must be] held in honor among all, and the marriage bed [be] undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5[Your] way of life [must be] free from the love of money, [and be] content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you."1 6So we take courage and say,

"The Lord [is] my helper,
I will not be afraid;
what shall man do to me?"2

7Keep remembering your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; observe the outcome of their conduct, and keep imitating [their] faith. 8Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Quit being carried away by various and strange teachings; for [it is] good for the heart to be made firm by grace, not by foods, by which those who walk after them were not benefited. 10We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle3 have no right to eat. 11For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest [as a sacrifice] for sin are burned outside the camp. 12That is why Jesus also, so that he might sanctify the people through [his] own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13Therefore let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. 14For here we have no city that will remain, but we seek the future one. 15Through him then4 let us always keep offering up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16Do not forget to do good and to share, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

17Keep obeying your leaders and deferring [to them]; for they keep on the alert on behalf of your souls, as [men] who will give account [for them]. [Obey them] so that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that [would be] of no advantage to you.

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1Deut. 31:6, 8; Josh. 1:5
2Ps. 118:6
3Or, tent
4Other ancient manuscripts omit then

Hebrews 13

18Keep praying for us, for we are confident that we have a good conscience, wishing to conduct [ourselves] well in all things. 19And I appeal [to you] even more to do this so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Prayer and Final Greetings

20Now may the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21equip you with everything good5 in order to do his will, working in us6 that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] the glory forever and ever.7 Amen.

22But I appeal to you, brothers, put up with [this] word of exhortation, for indeed I have written to you [only] in a few [words]. 23You must know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.

24Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. 25Grace [be] with all of you.8

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5Other ancient manuscripts read every good work
6Other ancient manuscripts read you
7Other ancient manuscripts
7Other ancient manuscripts omit and ever
8Other ancient manuscripts add Amen


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