Hebrews 11:23-12:13

New International Version

²³ By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,^(A) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.^(B)

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.^{(C) 25} He chose to be mistreated^(D) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He regarded disgrace^(E) for the sake of Christ^(F) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.^{(G) 27} By faith he left Egypt,^(H) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer^(I) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.^(J)

²⁹ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.^(K)

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.^(L)

³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.^[a](M)

³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,^(N) Barak,^(O) Samson^(P) and Jephthah,^(Q) about David^(R) and Samuel^(S) and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms,^(T) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,^{(U) 34} quenched the fury of the flames,^(V) and escaped the edge of the sword;^(W) whose weakness was turned to strength;^(X) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.^{(Y) 35} Women received back their dead, raised to life again.^(Z) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging,^(AA) and even chains and imprisonment.^{(AB) 37} They were put to death by stoning;^[b](AC) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.^(AD) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,^(AE) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves^(AF) and in holes in the ground.

³⁹ These were all commended^(AG) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,^{(AH) 40} since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us^(AI) would they be made perfect.^(AJ)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^(AK) with perseverance^(AL) the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(AM) the pioneer^(AN) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(AO) scorning its shame,^(AP) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^{(AQ) 3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary^(AR) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.^{(AS) 5} And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(AW) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(AX)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(AY) and live!^{(AZ) 10} They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{(BA) 11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(BB) for those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{(BC) 13} “Make level paths for your feet,”^[d](BD) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^(BE)