Hebrews 4-6

American Standard Version

4 Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed we have had ^[a]good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because ^[b]it was not united by faith with them that heard. ^3 [c]For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said,

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For he hath said somewhere of the seventh day on this wise, ^[g]And God rested on the seventh day from all his works; ⁵ and in this place again,

⁶ Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom ^[j]the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, ⁷ he again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before),

⁸ For if ^[l]Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. ⁹ There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall ^[m]after the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

¹⁴ Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.

5 For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: ² who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity; ³ and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. ⁴ And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron. ⁵ So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spake unto him,

⁶ as he saith also in another place,

⁷ Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him ^[p]from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, ⁸ though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; ⁹ and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the ^[q]author of eternal salvation; ¹⁰ named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

¹¹ Of ^[r]whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. ¹² For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again ^[s]that some one teach you the rudiments of the ^[t]first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. ¹³ For every one that partaketh of milk is ^[u]without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food is for ^[v]fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

6 Wherefore leaving ^[w]the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto ^[x]perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, ^2 [y]of the teaching of ^[z]baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. ³ And this will we do, if God permit. ⁴ For as touching those who were once enlightened ^[aa]and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and ^[ab]tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; ^[ac]seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. ⁷ For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: ⁸ but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.

⁹ But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that ^[ad]accompany salvation, though we thus speak: ¹⁰ for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the ^[ae]fulness of hope even to the end: ¹² that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

¹³ For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself, ¹⁴ saying, ^[af]Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. ¹⁵ And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. ¹⁶ For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. ¹⁷ Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, ^[ag]interposed with an oath; ¹⁸ that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: ¹⁹ which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; ²⁰ whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.