Hebrews 11-13 (New American Standard Bible)

Hebrews 11

The Triumphs of Faith

 ¹Now faith is the ^(A)assurance of things ^(B)hoped for, the conviction of ^(C)things not seen.

 ²For by it the ^(D)men of old ^(E)gained approval.

 ³By faith we understand that the ^(F)worlds were prepared ^(G)by the word of God, so that what is seen ^(H)was not made out of things which are visible.

 ⁴By faith ^(I)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he ^(J)obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his ^(K)gifts, and through faith, though ^(L)he is dead, he still speaks.

 ⁵By faith ^(M)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ^(N)see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

 ⁶And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who ^(O)comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

 ⁷By faith ^(P)Noah, being ^(Q)warned by God about ^(R)things not yet seen, ^(S)in reverence ^(T)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(U)the righteousness which is according to faith.

 ⁸By faith ^(V)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to ^(W)receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

 ⁹By faith he lived as an alien in ^(X)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(Y)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(Z)fellow heirs of the same promise;

 ¹⁰for he was looking for ^(AA)the city which has ^(AB)foundations, ^(AC)whose architect and builder is God.

 ¹¹By faith even ^(AD)Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him ^(AE)faithful who had promised.

 ¹²Therefore there was born even of one man, and ^(AF)him as good as dead at that, as many descendants ^(AG)AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

 ^13(AH)All these died in faith, ^(AI)without receiving the promises, but ^(AJ)having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and ^(AK)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

 ¹⁴For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

 ¹⁵And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, ^(AL)they would have had opportunity to return.

 ¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(AM)heavenly one Therefore ^(AN)God is not ashamed to be ^(AO)called their God; for ^(AP)He has prepared a city for them.

 ¹⁷By faith ^(AQ)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had ^(AR)received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

 ¹⁸it was he to whom it was said, "^(AS)IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED."

 ¹⁹He considered that ^(AT)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a ^(AU)type.

 ²⁰By faith ^(AV)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

 ²¹By faith ^(AW)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(AX)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

 ²²By faith ^(AY)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

 ²³By faith ^(AZ)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the ^(BA)king's edict.

 ²⁴By faith Moses, ^(BB)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

 ²⁵choosing rather to ^(BC)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

 ^26(BD)considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(BE)reward.

 ²⁷By faith he ^(BF)left Egypt, not ^(BG)fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as ^(BH)seeing Him who is unseen.

 ²⁸By faith he ^(BI)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(BJ)he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

 ²⁹By faith they ^(BK)passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

 ³⁰By faith ^(BL)the walls of Jericho fell down ^(BM)after they had been encircled for seven days.

 ³¹By faith ^(BN)Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

 ³²And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(BO)Gideon, ^(BP)Barak, ^(BQ)Samson, ^(BR)Jephthah, of ^(BS)David and ^(BT)Samuel and the prophets,

 ³³who by faith ^(BU)conquered kingdoms, ^(BV)performed acts of righteousness, ^(BW)obtained promises, ^(BX)shut the mouths of lions,

 ^34(BY)quenched the power of fire, ^(BZ)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(CA)became mighty in war, ^(CB)put foreign armies to flight.

 ^35(CC)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

 ³⁶and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also ^(CD)chains and imprisonment.

 ³⁷They were ^(CE)stoned, they were ^(CF)sawn in two, ^[a]they were tempted, they were ^(CG)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(CH)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(CI)ill-treated

 ³⁸(men of whom the world was not worthy), ^(CJ)wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

 ³⁹And all these, having ^(CK)gained approval through their faith, ^(CL)did not receive what was promised,

 ⁴⁰because God had provided ^(CM)something better for us, so that ^(CN)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Hebrews 12

Jesus, the Example

 ¹Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also ^(CO)lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us ^(CP)run with ^(CQ)endurance the race that is set before us,

 ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the ^(CR)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him ^(CS)endured the cross, ^(CT)despising the shame, and has ^(CU)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 ³For ^(CV)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^(CW)and lose heart.

A Father's Discipline

 ^4(CX)You have not yet resisted ^(CY)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

 ⁵and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
         "^(CZ)MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
         NOR ^(DA)FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
    ^6(DB)FOR THOSE ^(DC)WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
         AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."

 ⁷It is for discipline that you endure; ^(DD)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

 ⁸But if you are without discipline, ^(DE)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

 ⁹Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we ^(DF)respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to ^(DG)the Father of spirits, and ^(DH)live?

 ¹⁰For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, ^(DI)so that we may share His holiness.

 ¹¹All discipline ^(DJ)for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the ^(DK)peaceful fruit of righteousness.

 ¹²Therefore, ^(DL)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

 ¹³and ^(DM)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather ^(DN)be healed.

 ^14(DO)Pursue peace with all men, and the ^(DP)sanctification without which no one will ^(DQ)see the Lord.

 ¹⁵See to it that no one ^(DR)comes short of the grace of God; that no ^(DS)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be ^(DT)defiled;

 ¹⁶that there be no ^(DU)immoral or ^(DV)godless person like Esau, ^(DW)who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

 ¹⁷For you know that even afterwards, ^(DX)when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

 ^18(DY)For you have not come to ^(DZ)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,

 ¹⁹and to the ^(EA)blast of a trumpet and the ^(EB)sound of words which sound was such that those who heard ^(EC)begged that no further word be spoken to them.

 ²⁰For they could not bear the command, "^(ED)IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED."

 ²¹And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "^(EE)I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling."

 ²²But ^(EF)you have come to Mount Zion and to ^(EG)the city of ^(EH)the living God, ^(EI)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(EJ)myriads of angels,

 ²³to the general assembly and ^(EK)church of the firstborn who ^(EL)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, ^(EM)the Judge of all, and to the ^(EN)spirits of the righteous made perfect,

 ²⁴and to Jesus, the ^(EO)mediator of a new covenant, and to the ^(EP)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than ^(EQ)the blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

 ^25(ER)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is ^(ES)speaking For ^(ET)if those did not escape when they ^(EU)refused him who ^(EV)warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who ^(EW)warns from heaven.

 ²⁶And ^(EX)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "^(EY)YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."

 ²⁷This expression, "Yet once more," denotes ^(EZ)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

 ²⁸Therefore, since we receive a ^(FA)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may ^(FB)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

 ²⁹for ^(FC)our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 13

The Changeless Christ

 ¹Let ^(FD)love of the brethren continue.

 ²Do not neglect to ^(FE)show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have ^(FF)entertained angels without knowing it.

 ^3(FG)Remember ^(FH)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

 ^4(FI)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; ^(FJ)for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

 ⁵Make sure that your character is ^(FK)free from the love of money, ^(FL)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "^(FM)I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

 ⁶so that we confidently say,
         "^(FN)THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.
         WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

 ⁷Remember ^(FO)those who led you, who spoke ^(FP)the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, ^(FQ)imitate their faith.

 ^8(FR)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 ^9(FS)Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to ^(FT)be strengthened by grace, not by ^(FU)foods, ^(FV)through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

 ¹⁰We have an altar ^(FW)from which those ^(FX)who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

 ¹¹For ^(FY)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.

 ¹²Therefore Jesus also, ^(FZ)that He might sanctify the people ^(GA)through His own blood, suffered ^(GB)outside the gate.

 ¹³So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, ^(GC)bearing His reproach.

 ¹⁴For here ^(GD)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking ^(GE)the city which is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

 ^15(GF)Through Him then, let us continually offer up a ^(GG)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(GH)the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

 ¹⁶And do not neglect doing good and ^(GI)sharing, for ^(GJ)with such sacrifices God is pleased.

 ^17(GK)Obey your leaders and submit to them, for ^(GL)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

 ^18(GM)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a ^(GN)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

 ¹⁹And I urge you all the more to do this, ^(GO)so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

 ²⁰Now ^(GP)the God of peace, who ^(GQ)brought up from the dead the ^(GR)great Shepherd of the sheep through ^(GS)the blood of the ^(GT)eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,

 ^21(GU)equip you in every good thing to do His will, ^(GV)working in us that ^(GW)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(GX)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

 ²²But ^(GY)I urge you, ^(GZ)brethren, bear with this ^(HA)word of exhortation, for ^(HB)I have written to you briefly.

 ²³Take notice that ^(HC)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.

 ²⁴Greet ^(HD)all of your leaders and all the ^(HE)saints Those from ^(HF)Italy greet you.

 ^25(HG)Grace be with you all.