Warning and Encouragement

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^(A) and to be holy;^(B) without holiness no one will see the Lord.^{(C) 15} See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God^(D) and that no bitter root^(E) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See that no one is sexually immoral,^(F) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.^{(G) 17} Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,^(H) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{(I) 19} to a trumpet blast^(J) or to such a voice speaking words^(K) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(L) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[a](M) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[b](N)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(O) to the city^(P) of the living God,^(Q) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(R) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(S) whose names are written in heaven.^(T) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(U) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(V) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(W) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(X) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(Y)

²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse^(Z) him who speaks.^(AA) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned^(AB) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?^{(AC) 26} At that time his voice shook the earth,^(AD) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^{[c](AE) 27} The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken^(AF)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^(AG) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{(AH) 29} for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[d](AI)