Hebrews 4
Worldwide English (New Testament)
4 We still have God's promise that people will go into his resting place. So let us take care that not one of you will be kept out.
2 The good news has been told to us just as it was told to the people in the desert. But the message which they heard did not do them any good. Even though they heard it, they did not believe it.
3 But we who believe, will go into that resting place of God. It is as God said, `When I was angry, I said, "They will never go into my resting place." ' He said this even though his work had been finished ever since he had made the world.
4 Here is what he said, somewhere in the holy writings, about the seventh day: `And God rested on the seventh day after doing all his work.'
5 And now here he says again, `They will never go into my resting place.'
6 So that means some people will go in. But the people who first heard the good news about it did not go in. They did not believe it.
7 So he chose another day called `Today.' He spoke through David many years later, who said, `Today, when you hear his voice, do not make your hearts hard.'
8 If Joshua had led those people to rest, God would not have talked later about another day.
9 So there is still a rest for God's people, like a Sabbath day.
10 The person who goes into God's resting place will rest after doing his work, just as God rested after doing his work.
11 So let us do our best to go into that resting place. Those people died in the wilderness because they did not believe. So let us take care that the same thing does not happen to one of us.
12 God's word is living and full of power. It is more sharp than any sword that cuts on both sides. What God says cuts through and divides the mind and spirit. It cuts through and divides the place where the bones are joined, and the part inside the bone. What God says is able to judge the things people think and plan in their hearts.
13 God is the one we must meet. Nothing can be hidden from him. Everything is open and he can see it.
14 We have a great high priest who has gone into heaven. He is Jesus, the Son of God. Because we have such a great high priest, let us hold on to the things we believe.
15 We have a high priest who can feel with us when we are weak. He has been tested in every way, just as we are. But he did not do anything wrong.
16 So let us trust him when we come to worship God. He is so good. He will be kind to us and help us when we need it.
Hebrews 4
English Standard Version
4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem (A)to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because (B)they were not united by faith with those who listened.[a] 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
(C)“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: (D)“And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
(E)“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news (F)failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
(G)“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God[b] would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also (H)rested from his works as God did from his.
11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so (I)that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For (J)the word of God is living and (K)active, (L)sharper than any (M)two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and (N)discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And (O)no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are (P)naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Since then we have (Q)a great high priest (R)who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, (S)let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest (T)who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been (U)tempted as we are, (V)yet without sin. 16 (W)Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers
- Hebrews 4:8 Greek he
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