¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.^{(A) 11} We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope^(B) for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate^(C) those who through faith and patience^(D) inherit what has been promised.^(E)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,^{(F) 14} saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”^{[a](G) 15} And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.^(H)

¹⁶ People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^{(I) 17} Because God wanted to make the unchanging^(J) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^(K) he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,^(L) we who have fled to take hold of the hope^(M) set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,^(N)