14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold(A) our original conviction firmly to the very end.(B) 15 As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts
    as you did in the rebellion.”[a](C)

16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?(D) 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?(E) 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest(F) if not to those who disobeyed?(G) 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.(H)

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.(I) For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[b](J) Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[c](K)

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[d](L) And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”(M)

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,(N)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 3:15 Psalm 95:7,8
  2. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
  3. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
  4. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2