Hebrews 13
English Standard Version
Sacrifices Pleasing to God
13 Let (A)brotherly love continue. 2 (B)Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby (C)some have entertained angels unawares. 3 (D)Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 (E)Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge (F)the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life (G)free from love of money, and (H)be content with what you have, for he has said, (I)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
7 Remember (L)your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and (M)imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is (N)the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be (O)led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, (P)not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar (Q)from which those who serve the tent[a] have no right to eat. 11 For (R)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned (S)outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also (T)suffered (U)outside the gate in order to sanctify the people (V)through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear (W)the reproach he endured. 14 For (X)here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 (Y)Through him then let us continually offer up (Z)a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (AA)the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and (AB)to share what you have, for such (AC)sacrifices are pleasing to God.
17 Obey (AD)your leaders and submit to them, (AE)for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to (AF)give an account. (AG)Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 (AH)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order (AI)that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction
20 Now (AJ)may the God of peace (AK)who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, (AL)the great shepherd of the sheep, by (AM)the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 (AN)equip you with everything good that you may do his will, (AO)working in us[b] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, (AP)to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
22 I appeal to you, brothers,[c] bear with my word of exhortation, for (AQ)I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that (AR)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all (AS)your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 (AT)Grace be with all of you.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:10 Or tabernacle
- Hebrews 13:21 Some manuscripts you
- Hebrews 13:22 Or brothers and sisters
Hebrews 13
The Message
Jesus Doesn’t Change
13 1-4 Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you. Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.
5-6 Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,
God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?
7-8 Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.
9 Don’t be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The grace of Christ is the only good ground for life. Products named after Christ don’t seem to do much for those who buy them.
10-12 The altar from which God gives us the gift of himself is not for exploitation by insiders who grab and loot. In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies disposed of outside the camp. The blood is then brought inside to the altar as a sacrifice for sin. It’s the same with Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates—that is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought to God’s altar to cleanse his people.
13-15 So let’s go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This “insider world” is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let’s take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name.
* * *
16 Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of “sacrifice”—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.
17 Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them?
18-21 Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we’re doing or why, but it’s hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon.
May God, who puts all things together,
makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
22-23 Friends, please take what I’ve written most seriously. I’ve kept this as brief as possible; I haven’t piled on a lot of extras. You’ll be glad to know that Timothy has been let out of prison. If he leaves soon, I’ll come with him and get to see you myself.
24 Say hello to your pastoral leaders and all the congregations. Everyone here in Italy wants to be remembered to you.
25 Grace be with you, every one.
Hebrews 13
New Living Translation
Concluding Words
13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.[a] 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”[b]
6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”[c]
7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
10 We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle[d] have no right to eat. 11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.
20 Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21 may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,[e]
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
22 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,[f] to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.
23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there.[g] The believers from Italy send you their greetings.
25 May God’s grace be with you all.
Hebrews 13
New American Standard Bible
The Changeless Christ
13 Let (A)love of the brothers and sisters continue. 2 Do not neglect (B)hospitality to strangers, for by this some have (C)entertained angels without knowing it. 3 (D)Remember (E)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 (F)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; (G)for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5 Make sure that your character is (H)free from the love of money, (I)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “(J)I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“(K)The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”
7 Remember (L)those who led you, who spoke (M)the word of God to you; and considering the [a]result of their way of life, (N)imitate their faith. 8 (O)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. 9 (P)Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to (Q)be strengthened by grace, not by (R)foods, (S)through which those who [b]were so occupied were not benefited. 10 We have an altar (T)from which those (U)who serve the [c]tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For (V)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered (W)outside the gate, (X)that He might sanctify the people (Y)through His own blood. 13 So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, (Z)bearing His reproach. 14 For here (AA)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking (AB)the city which is to come.
God-pleasing Sacrifices
15 (AC)Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a (AD)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (AE)the fruit of lips praising His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and (AF)sharing, for (AG)with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 (AH)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for (AI)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not [d]groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.
18 (AJ)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a (AK)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, (AL)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.
Benediction
20 Now may (AM)the God of peace, who (AN)brought up from the dead the (AO)great Shepherd of the sheep [e]through (AP)the blood of the (AQ)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, 21 (AR)equip you in every good thing to do His will, (AS)working in us that (AT)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, (AU)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 But (AV)I urge you, (AW)brothers and sisters, [f]listen patiently to [g]this (AX)word of exhortation, for (AY)I have written to you briefly. 23 Know that (AZ)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet (BA)all of your leaders and all the [h](BB)saints. Those from (BC)Italy greet you.
25 (BD)Grace be with you all.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:7 Or end of their life
- Hebrews 13:9 Lit walked
- Hebrews 13:10 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 13:17 Or sighing
- Hebrews 13:20 Lit in
- Hebrews 13:22 Or listen to
- Hebrews 13:22 Lit the
- Hebrews 13:24 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
