When he had made purification of sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having surpassed the angels to the same degree that he has inherited a name superior to theirs. 5For to which of the angels did He ever say, "You are My Son, today I have become your Father"? [Ps. 2:7] and again, "I will be a Father to him, and he will be a Son to Me"? [2Sam. 7:14]
6Again, when He brings the firstborn into the world He says, "Let all the angels of God bow down to him." [LXX Dt. 32:43; Ps. 97:7, 88:26-27] 7On the one hand, He says of the angels, Who makes His angels winds, and His servants a flame of fire. [Ps. 103:4LXX/104:4H; Lk. 2:13-14] 8But of the Son, He says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9You have loved justice, and hated actions contrary to the Law. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." [Ps. 45:7-8H]
10And, "In the beginning, O Everpresent Lord, You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. 11They will perish, but You continue. They all will grow old as a garment does. 12You will roll them up as a cloak, and they will be changed, but You are the same. Your years will not fail." [Ps.102:26-28H]
13But to which of the angels has He ever said, "Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet"? [Ps. 110:1] 14Aren't they all ministering spirits, sent out for service on behalf of those who are about to inherit salvation?
2 1Because of this, it is necessary for us to pay all the more attention to the things that were heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels was confirmed, and every transgression and act of disobedience received what it deserved, 3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Having been spoken through the Lord first, it was confirmed to us by those who heard. 4God bore witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various works of power and the Ruakh Kodesh in accordance with His will.
5For He did not subject to angels the world to come, of which we speak. 6But He bears witness in a particular place, saying, "What is man, that You remember him? or a son of Adam, that You watch over him? 7You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor. 8You have put all things in subjection under his feet, and set him over the works of Your hands." [Ps. 8:4-6]
For in subjecting 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. 9However, we do see Yeshua, who has been made a little lower than the angels. He was crowned with glory and honor through the suffering of death, that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10Because it was fitting for the One by whom and for whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, to bring the author of their salvation to fulfillment through sufferings. 11For both the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from One. Because of this, 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 Your praise." [Ps. 22:22]
13And again, "I will put my trust in Him." [Is. 8:17] And again, "Behold, here I am and the children whom God has given me." [Is. 8:18] 14Inasmuch then as the children have flesh and blood in common, he likewise also partook of the same, so that through death he might end the work of the one who has the power of death that is, the Enemy 15and might deliver whoever was guilty and in slavery by fear of death through all of life 16for it certainly does not take hold of angels, but takes hold of the seed of Abraham. 17Therefore he was obligated to be made like his brothers in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful Kohen Gadol towards God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Since he was tempted in what he suffered, he has the power to help those who are tempted.
3 1Therefore holy brethren, partakers of a calling from Heaven, consider Yeshua, the Messiah, the ambassador and Kohen Gadol of what we all acknowledge. 2He was faithful to the One who appointed him, just as Moses also was in His whole house. [Num.12:7] 3For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as the one who built the house has much more honor than the house. 4For every house is built by someone, but God is the One who built all things. 5As a servant, Moses was truly faithful in all His house, which is supporting evidence for those things which were going to be spoken. 6But as a Son, Messiah is over his own house. We are his house, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the glory of our hope firm unto the end.
7Therefore just as the Ruakh Kodesh says, "Today if you+ will hear His voice, 8do not harden your+ hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of testing in the wilderness, 9where your+ fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My deeds for forty years. 10Therefore I was angry 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 will not enter into My rest." [Ps. 95:7-11]
12Pay attention, brethren, so that there will not be in any one of you+ an evil heart of unbelief, to fall away from the living God. 13Instead, encourage each other every day as long as it is called "today," so that none of you+ is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have become partakers of the Messiah, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end 15in what is said, "Today if you+ will hear His voice, do not harden your+ hearts, as in the rebellion." [Ps. 95:7]
16For some who came out of Egypt by Moses, but not all, heard and rebelled. 17Now with whom was He displeased forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18To whom did He swear that they would not enter into His rest, if not those who were disobedient? 19We see that they were not able to enter in because of disbelief.
4 1Therefore we should fear, so that none of you+ might seem to come short of the promise that remains of entering into His rest, 2because we have had the good news proclaimed to us, even as they did. But the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not joined with faith by those who heard. 3For those who have believed do enter into that rest, even as He has said, "As I swore in My wrath, they will not enter into My rest," [Ps. 95:11] although the works have been finished since the foundation of the world. 4For somewhere He has said this about the seventh day, "God rested on the seventh day from all His works." [Gen. 2:2, Ex. 20:11, 31:17] 5And in this place again, "They will not enter into My rest." [Ps. 95:11]
6Since therefore it is left to some to enter it, and those to whom the good news was proclaimed before did not enter in because of disobedience, 7He again designates a certain day, "today," saying through David so long a time afterward just as has been said "Today if you+ will hear His voice, do not harden your+ hearts." [Ps. 95:7]
8For if Yeshua son of Nun had given them rest, He would not have spoken afterward of another day. 9Therefore there remains a Shabbat rest for the people of God. 10For the one who has entered into His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11Let us therefore be diligent to enter into that rest, so that no one falls in the same pattern of disobedience.
12For the Word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13There is no creature that is hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and exposed before the eyes of Him for whom the word concerns us.
14Having then a great Kohen Gadol who has passed through the heavens, Yeshua the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our commitment. 15For we do not have a Kohen Gadol who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has likewise been tempted in all things, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for timely help.
5 1For every Kohen Gadol taken from men is put in charge for men in things toward God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. 3Because of this, just as he brings sin offerings for the people, so he is obligated to do for himself.
4No one takes this honor on his own, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5In the same way, the Messiah did not glorify himself to become a Kohen Gadol, but rather the One who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have become you father." [Ps. 2:7] 6Just as He also says in another place, "You are a Kohen forever, after the order of Malki-Tzedek." [Ps. 110:4]
7-8In the days of his flesh, he brought prayers and entreaties, with strong cries and tears, to the One who had the power to save him from death, and was heard. Though he was a Son, he learned obedience by the things he suffered, because of fear. 9His purpose being fulfilled, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him, 10being designated by God as a Kohen Gadol after the order of Malki-Tzedek.
11The Word has much about him that is hard to explain, since you+ have become slow of hearing. 12For though you+ are obligated to be teachers because of the time, you+ again need to have someone teach you+ the basics of the beginning of the revealed words of God. You+ have come to need milk, and not solid food. 13For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14But solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained their senses through use to discern both good and evil.
6 1So, leaving the beginning discussion of Messiah, let us press on to full maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, 2of the teaching about immersions, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3We will do this, if God permits.
4For concerning those who were once given light, have tasted of the heavenly gift, have become partakers of the Ruakh
Kodesh, 5have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and have then fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again put the Son of God on the deathstake for themselves, and put him to public shame. 7For land that drinks the rain that often comes upon it, and bears plants suitable for those who cultivate it, shares in the blessing from God. 8But that which produces thorns and thistles is rejected and is close to a curse, and its end is to be burned.
9But even though we speak like this, beloved, we are persuaded of better things about you+, things that accompany salvation. 10For God is not unjust to forget your+ work and love which you+ showed toward His Name in having served and in continuing to serve those who belong to Him. 11Now we desire that each one of you+ show the same pursuit toward the full assurance of hope until the end, 12so that you+ do not become unresponsive, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patient endurance.
13For when God made a promise to Abraham, He swore by Himself, since He could swear by none greater. 14He said, "Surely in blessing, I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply you." [Gen. 22:17] 15Having patiently endured, he obtained the promise in this way. 16For men swear by what is greater, and the oath is the conclusion to all their controversies. 17God confirmed it in this way with an oath, being determined to abundantly demonstrate the unchangeable nature of His will to the heirs of the promise.
18So by two unchangeable actions in which it is impossible for God to lie, those who have fled for refuge may have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before them. 19We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and yet enters into the place within the veil. 20Yeshua entered there for us as a forerunner, having become a Kohen Gadol forever after the order of Malki-Tzedek.
7 1For this Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, Kohen of God Most High, met Abraham returning from the victory over the kings, He is first, by translation, King of Righteousness; and then also King of Shalem, which is king of peace. 3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life made like the Son of God he remains a Kohen forevermore.
4Now consider how great this man was. Even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils to him. 5On the one hand, those of the sons of Levi who receive the office of Kohen have a commandment to take one-tenth from the people according to the Law that is, of their relatives, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham. 6BOn the other hand, he who is not descended from them has taken one-tenth from Abraham, and has blessed the one who has the promises. 7And beyond all dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, people who die receive the tenths, but in the other, it is one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9We might say that even Levi, who receives the tenth, has paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because he was still in the loins of his father when Malki-Tzedek met him.
11-12Now if there were fulfillment of the purpose through the Levitical priesthood, what further need was there for another Kohen to arise after the order of Malki-Tzedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? With the priesthood being changed, it is a necessity for a change of law to take place also, since the people were given law concerning it. 13For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has attended at the altar. 14For it is quite evident that our Lord has arisen out of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning a priesthood.
15And it is much more evident if another Kohen arises after the likeness of Malki-Tzedek, 16who has been made such, not according to a law commanded on the basis of the flesh, but after the power of an endless life. 17For this testimony is given: "You are a Kohen forever, according to the order of Malki-Tzedek." [Ps. 110:4] 18For there is a setting aside of a previous commandment because of its weakness and lack of accomplishment. 19Because the Law did not bring anything to completion in contrast to the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. [Heb. 5:9]
20,22Inasmuch as Yeshua was not made a Kohen without an oath, by so much more has he become the guarantee of a better covenant. 21For they indeed have been made Kohanim without an oath, but he with an oath by the One who says of him, "The Everpresent Lord swore and will not change His mind, You are a Kohen forever, according to the order of Malki-Tzedek." [Ps. 110:4]
23In the one case, those who become Kohanim are many, because they are prevented by death from continuing. 24But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood which is not passed on to another. 25Therefore he is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, since he is always alive to make intercession for them.
26For such a Kohen Gadol holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens was appropriate for us. 27He does not need, like those Kohanim Gedolim, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself. 28For the Law appoints as Kohanim Gedolim men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, consecrates a Son forever. [Lev.4:5; 21:10]
8 1Now the main point of the things we are saying is this: we have such a Kohen Gadol, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. 2He is a servant of the holy things and the true place of Gods presence which the Everpresent Lord set up, not man. 3For every Kohen Gadol is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Consequently, it is necessary that this one also have something to offer. 4For if he were on earth, he would not be a Kohen at all, seeing there are Kohanim who offer the gifts according to the Law. 5They serve in the representation and shadow of the things in heaven. Accordingly, Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the place of Gods presence, since He said, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain." [Ex. 25:40]
6But now he has obtained a public duty, which has been made law on better promises, that is superior to the same degree that he is also the mediator of a better covenant. 7Because if that first had been faultless, then a place would never have been sought for a second. 8For He said to them, finding fault, "Behold, the days come, says the Everpresent Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9not like the covenant 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. For they did not continue in My covenant, and I did not take care of them, says the Everpresent Lord. 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Everpresent Lord: I will put My laws into their mind. I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be My people. 11They will not teach every man his fellow-citizen, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Everpresent Lord, for all will know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12For I will be merciful concerning their unrighteousness, and I will no longer remember their sins and lawless deeds." [Jer. 38:31-34LXX/31:31-34]
13By saying, "a new covenant," He has made the
first old. Now what is becoming old and grows aged is close to disappearing.
9 1-2Now indeed even the first covenant had regulations for public
service, because a place of Gods presence was prepared, a place which was both holy and in the world. In the first part, which is called the Holy Place, were the menorah, the table, and
the consecrated bread. 3Past the second veil was the covered place which is called the Holy of Holies.
4It had a golden incense altar, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold,
in which were a golden pot holding the manna, Aarons rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
5Above it were cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. We cannot now speak in detail of these things.
6But these things having been prepared in this way, the Kohanim continually go into the first covered place, completing the services. 7However, only the Kohen Gadol goes into the second, once in the year; not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8The Ruakh Kodesh is indicating by this that the way into the Holy Place was not yet revealed while the first place of Gods presence was still standing. 9This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable of making the one who serves clean in conscience 10only in foods, drinks, and various washings physical requirements put in place until a time of restoration.
11Now as a Kohen Gadol of the coming good things, Messiah came through the greater and perfect place of Gods presence, not made with hands; that is to say, not of this creation. 12And not through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, he entered in once for all into the Holy of Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been profaned, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of the Messiah who offered himself without blemish to God through the eternal Spirit cleanse your+ conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15And by this means, he is the mediator of a new covenant. In this manner, a death has occurred for release from the transgressions under the first covenant, so that those who have been called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16For where there is a covenant, the death of what confirms the covenant must be presented, 17because a covenant is confirmed over dead bodies. For it is never in force while what confirms the covenant lives.
18Therefore even the first covenant was not dedicated without blood. 19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded for you+." [Ex.24: 8]
21Moreover, in the same way, he sprinkled the place of Gods presence and all the objects of service with the blood. 22According to the Law, in general, everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23Therefore it was necessary that the representations of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24Indeed, Messiah has not entered into holy places made by hands, which are copies of the actual ones, but into heaven itself, to appear in the presence of God for us now. 25He does not need to offer himself often, as the Kohen Gadol enters into the Holy of Holies year by year with the blood of another. 26Otherwise he would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the consummation of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Inasmuch as to die once is stored up and awaiting men, and judgment after this, [2Esd.14:35] 28in the same way, the Messiah also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, separated from sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.
10 1Since the Law has a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of these things, it can never completely cleanse those who draw near with the same yearly sacrifices which they offer continually. 2Otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, because those who serve, having once been cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins? 3But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins, 4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5So when he comes into the world, he says, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for me. 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7Then I said, Behold, I have come in the scroll of the book it is written of me to accomplish Your purpose, O God." [Ps. 39:7-9LXX/40:7-9H]
8Saying initially, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, You did not desire nor did You have pleasure in them" [Ps. 40:7H] these are offered according to the Law 9then he has said, "Behold, I have come to accomplish Your purpose." [Ps. 40:9H] He takes away the first, that he may establish the second.
10We have been sanctified by this purpose through the offering of the body of Yeshua the Messiah, once for all time. 11On the one hand, every Kohen stands serving daily and repeatedly offering the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. 12But this Kohen, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13waiting from that time until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. [Ps. 110:1] 14For by one offering he has fully cleansed forever those who are being sanctified.
15The Ruakh Kodesh also testifies to us in saying, 16"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Everpresent Lord, I will put My laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind." [Jer. 31:33] After saying this, He then says, 17"I will no longer remember their sins and their crimes." [Jer. 31:34] 18Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
19Brethren, we therefore have boldness to enter into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Yeshua, 20by a new and living way which he consecrated for us through the veil, which is his flesh. 21And having a Kohen Gadol over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of hope without wavering, because the One who promised is faithful.
24Let us consider how to encourage one another to love and good works, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as the habit of some is, but encouraging one another; and so much the more as you+ see the Day approaching. 26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fiery zeal which is going to consume the enemies. [Is. 26:11]
28A man who disregards the Law of Moses dies without compassion on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29The one who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has considered unholy the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace how much worse punishment do you+ think he will deserve? 30For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, says the Everpresent Lord, I will repay." [Dt. 32:35] Again, "The Everpresent Lord will judge His people." [Dt. 32:36] 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32But remember the former days in which you+ were given light and endured a great struggle with sufferings. 33On the one hand you+ were made a spectacle in both reproaches and oppressions. And on the other hand you were becoming companions of those who were so treated. 34For you+ had compassion on the prisoners, and also accepted the seizure of your+ possessions with joy, knowing that you+ have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one. 35So do not throw away your+ boldness, which has a great reward.
36For you+ need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you+ may receive the promise. 37"In a very little while, the One who is coming will come, and will not delay. 38But My righteous one will live from faith. If he turns back, My soul has no pleasure in him." [Hab. 2:3,4] 39But we are not of those who turn back into destruction, but of those who are faithful to the preservation of the soul.
11 1Now faith is the foundation of things hoped for, the certainty of things not seen. 2For the elders obtained a good report by this. 3By faith, we understand that the ages were established by the spoken word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. [2Mac.7:28]
4In faith, Hevel offered to God a better sacrifice than Kain, through which he obtained confirmation that he was righteous God testifying about his gifts. And through it, though having died, he still speaks. 5By faith, Hanokh was taken away, so that he would not see death. And he was not found, because God took him away, for it was testified of him before he was taken away that he pleased God. [Gen. 5:24; Sir. 44:16; Wis. 4:10-11] 6But apart from faith, it is impossible to please Him, for it is necessary that the one who comes to God believes that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
7In faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, feared God and prepared an ark for the salvation of his house. By this he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is from faith.
8In faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. 9In faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land, as though foreign, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow-heirs of the same promise. [Gen.28:4] 10For he was awaiting the city which has foundations whose builder and framer is God. [1Mac.2:52-61]
11By faith, when Sarah herself was barren and past the time of life, he received power to father a child, since he considered faithful the One who had promised. 12Therefore also from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the shore of the sea. [Gen. 15:5, 22:17, 32:12]
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen and embraced them from a distance, and having confessed that they were foreigners and sojourners upon the land. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking their own homeland. 15If they had truly been remembering the one from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16However, as it is, they are reaching for a better one, that is, one from heaven. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, because He has prepared a city for them.
17Being tested, Abraham offered up Isaac by faith he who had received the promises was offering up his only son. 18Since it was said about him, "In Isaac your seed will be called," [Gen. 21:12] 19he considered that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead. From there, figuratively speaking, he also received him back.
20In faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esav concerning things to come. 21In faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Yosef, and bowed down upon the top of his staff. 22In faith, Yosef, when his end was near, made mention of the exodus of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23When Moses was born, he was hidden for three months by his parents in faith, because they saw the child was good, and they were not afraid of the kings command. 24When Moses had grown up, in faith he refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, 25choosing to suffer affliction with Gods people rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin. 26He considered the disgrace of the Messiah greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, because he looked to the reward. 27In faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king, because he persevered while seeing the invisible. [Ex. 2]
28In faith, he kept the Pesakh and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn could not touch them. 29By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
30By faith, the walls of Yeriho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith, Rahav the harlot, having received the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
32What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I spoke about Gideon, Barak, Shimshon, Yiftah, David, Shmuel, and the prophets. 33Through faith they conquered kingdoms, did works of righteousness, attained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34extinguished the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in war, and routed foreign armies. 35Women received their dead raised to life. Yet others were tortured, not receiving their deliverance, so that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Still others were tested by mocking and whipping, and by chains and imprisonment beyond that. 37They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slaughtered with the sword. They went around in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, mistreated. 38They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth. The world was not worthy of them.
39But all these, their faith testifying of them, did not receive the promise, 40God having foreseen something better for us, so that they should not receive fulfillment apart from us.
12 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the abundant sin around us. And let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2looking to Yeshua, the author and finisher of the faith. He endured the tree of death because of the joy that was set before him, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Indeed, think again about the one who has endured such rejection by sinners against himself, so that you+ do not grow weary, fainting in your+ souls. [Wis. of Sol. 2:18-20] 4In striving against sin, you+ have not yet resisted unto blood, 5and you+ have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you+ as children: "My child, do not take lightly the chastening of the Everpresent, nor faint under His reproof, [Job 5:17] 6because the Everpresent Lord trains those He loves, and disciplines every child whom He receives." [Prov. 3:11,12; Judith 8:27]
7If you+ endure training, God brings you+ near as children, because what child is there whom his father does not train? [Dt. 8:5-6] 8But if you+ are without training of which all have been made partakers then you+ are illegitimate, and not children. 9Moreover we have had our physical fathers to train us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they indeed trained us for a few days as seemed good to them, but He for our benefit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
11But no training truly seems to come with joy, but with pain. Yet afterward, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore lift up the hands that hang down, and restore the weakened knees. 13Make straight paths for your+ feet, so that what is lame will not be twisted, but be healed instead.
14Pursue peace with all and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15Look after each other so that there is no one who falls short of the grace of God; so that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble for you+ and many become defiled through it; 16so that there not be any sexually immoral person, or profane person like Esav, who gave up his birthright for one meal. 17For you+ know that when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because, though he sought it diligently with tears, he found no place for repentance.
18For you+ have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is "burning with fire, and to blackness, darkness, and storm. 19Those who heard the blast of a shofar and the sound of words [Dt. 4:12] begged that nothing more be spoken to them, 20since they could not endure what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." [Ex. 19:12] 21And the appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am full of fear and trembling." [Dt. 9:19]
22But you+ have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, heavenly Yerushalaim, and to tens of thousands of angels gathered in celebration, 23to the community of the firstborn written down in heaven. You+ have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men who have been made whole, 24to Yeshua, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. [Gen.4:9-11]
25See that you+ do not refuse the One who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from the One who warns from heaven. 26His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens." [Hag. 2:6] 27This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removing of those things that are shaken, which have been made, so that those things which are not shaken remain. 28Having received an unshakeable kingdom, let us therefore have grace, through which we serve God acceptably with reverence and fear, 29because our God is a consuming fire. [Ex.24:17, Dt.4:24,9:3]
13 1Continue in brotherly love. 2Do not forget to love the foreigners, for in doing so some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. [Gen.18 & 19] 3Remember those who are imprisoned, as if imprisoned with them, and those who are mistreated, because you+ also are in the body. 4Since marriage is completely honorable and the bed is to be undefiled, God will judge adulterers and the sexually immoral.
5Do not be covetous. Be content with the things you+ do have, since He has said, "I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you." [Dt. 31:6] 6Consequently we have courage to say, "The Everpresent Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?" [Ps. 118:6]
7Remember your+ leaders, men who spoke the word of God to you+, and, carefully observe the end result of their way of life. Imitate their faith. 8Yeshua, the Messiah, is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9Do not be carried away by intricate and strange teachings. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by foods which did not benefit those involved. 10We have an altar from which those who serve in the place of Gods presence have no authority to eat. 11For the animals whose blood is brought by the Kohen Gadol into the holy place as an offering for sin their bodies are burned outside the camp. 12Therefore, in order to sanctify the people through his own blood, Yeshua also suffered outside the gate. 13Let us therefore go out to him, bearing his reproach outside the camp.
14For we do not have here an enduring city, but we are seeking the one that is coming. 15Let us therefore continually offer up through him a sacrifice of praise to God this is the fruit of lips praising His name. 16But do not forget to be doing good and sharing, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
17Trust and give way to your+ leaders, because they watch over your+ souls as those who must give an account. In this way, they may do it with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you+.
18Pray for us, for we trust that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves well in all things. 19And I urge you+ even more to do this so that I may be restored to you+ sooner.
20Now may the God of peace who raised from the dead our Lord Yeshua, the great shepherd of the sheep, with the blood of an eternal covenant 21may He uphold you+ in every good thing to do His will. May He work in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Yeshua the Messiah, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22Now I encourage you+ brethren, bear the word of exhortation, for I have written briefly to you+. 23Be aware that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, I will see you+ with him. 24Greet all of your+ leaders and all those who belong to God. Those from Italy greet you+. 25Grace be with you+ all.