信的人得享安息

因此,上帝既然仍舊應許讓人進入祂的安息,我們就該戰戰兢兢,免得有人失去這福分。 因為我們和他們一樣聽到了福音,只是他們聽了道後沒有憑信心領受,結果沒有得到益處。 正如上帝曾說:

「我在憤怒中起誓說,
『他們絕不可進入我的安息。』」

但我們這些已經信的人能夠進入祂的安息。其實造物之工自創世以來就已經完成了, 因為聖經論到第七日時說:「第七日,上帝歇了一切的工。」 又說:「他們絕不可進入我的安息。」 既然最終會有人進入安息,而那些從前聽過福音的人因為不信沒能進去, 上帝就另定了一個日子,稱之為「今日」。正如多年後,祂藉著大衛說:

「你們今日若聽見祂的聲音,
不可心裡頑固。」

如果當初約書亞已經讓他們得到了安息,上帝就不必另定一個日子了。 這樣說來,必定另有一個安息日為上帝的子民存留,使他們可以真正安歇。 10 因為人進入上帝的安息,就是歇了自己的工作,好像上帝歇了祂的工作一樣。 11 因此,我們要竭力進入那安息,免得重蹈他們的覆轍,因不順服而倒斃。

12 上帝的話有生命、有功效,鋒利無比,勝過一切兩刃的利劍,甚至能夠剌入並分開魂與靈、關節與骨髓,辨明人一切的思想和動機。 13 受造物在上帝面前都無法隱藏,因為萬物都是赤裸裸地暴露在上帝眼前,我們必須向祂交帳。

大祭司耶穌

14 我們既然有一位已經升上高天的尊貴大祭司——上帝的兒子耶穌,就應當持守我們所認定的信仰。 15 因為我們這位大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱,祂與我們一樣曾經面對各樣的試探,卻從來沒有犯罪。 16 所以,讓我們坦然無懼地到祂賜恩的寶座前,好領受憐憫和恩典,作隨時的幫助。

(A) luăm dar bine seama ca, atâta vreme cât rămâne în picioare făgăduinţa intrării în odihna Lui, niciunul din voi să nu se pomenească venit prea târziu. Căci şi nouă ni s-a adus o veste bună ca şi lor, dar lor cuvântul care le-a fost propovăduit nu le-a ajutat la nimic, pentru că n-a găsit credinţă la cei ce l-au auzit. Pe când noi(B), fiindcă am crezut, intrăm în „odihna” despre care a vorbit El când a zis: „Am(C) jurat în mânia Mea că nu vor intra în odihna Mea!” Măcar că lucrările Lui fuseseră isprăvite încă de la întemeierea lumii. Căci într-un loc a vorbit astfel despre ziua a şaptea: „Dumnezeu S-a(D) odihnit în ziua a şaptea de toate lucrările Lui”. Şi aici este zis iarăşi: „Nu vor intra în odihna Mea!” Deci, fiindcă rămâne ca să intre unii în odihna aceasta şi pentru că aceia(E) cărora li s-a vestit întâi vestea bună n-au intrat în ea din pricina neascultării lor, El hotărăşte din nou o zi: „Astăzi(F)”, zicând, în David, după atâta vreme, cum s-a spus mai sus: „Astăzi, dacă auziţi glasul Lui, nu vă împietriţi inimile!” Căci, dacă le-ar fi dat Iosua odihna, n-ar mai vorbi Dumnezeu după aceea de o altă zi. Rămâne dar o odihnă ca cea de Sabat pentru poporul lui Dumnezeu. 10 Fiindcă cine intră în odihna Lui se odihneşte şi el de lucrările lui, cum S-a odihnit Dumnezeu de lucrările Sale. 11 Să ne grăbim dar să intrăm în odihna aceasta, pentru ca nimeni să nu cadă în aceeaşi(G) pildă de neascultare. 12 Căci Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu este viu(H) şi lucrător, mai(I) tăietor decât orice sabie(J) cu două tăişuri: pătrunde(K) până acolo că desparte sufletul şi duhul, încheieturile şi măduva, judecă simţirile şi gândurile inimii. 13 Nicio(L) făptură nu este ascunsă de El, ci totul este gol şi descoperit(M) înaintea ochilor Aceluia cu care avem a face. 14 Astfel, fiindcă avem un Mare Preot(N) însemnat, care(O) a străbătut cerurile, pe Isus, Fiul lui Dumnezeu, să(P) rămânem tari în mărturisirea noastră. 15 Căci n-avem(Q) un Mare Preot care să n-aibă milă de slăbiciunile noastre, ci unul care în toate lucrurile a fost ispitit(R) ca şi noi, dar(S) fără păcat. 16 (T) ne apropiem dar cu deplină încredere de scaunul harului ca să căpătăm îndurare şi să găsim har, pentru ca să fim ajutaţi la vreme de nevoie.

The Promised Rest

Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it.[a] For we also have received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith[b](A) (for we who have believed enter the rest), in keeping with what[c] He has said:

So I swore in My anger,
they will not enter My rest.(B)[d]

And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world, for somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this way:

And on the seventh day
God rested from all His works.(C)[e]

Again, in that passage He says, They will never enter My rest.[f] Since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,(D) again, He specifies a certain day—today—speaking through David after such a long time, as previously stated:

Today, if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts.(E)[g]

For if Joshua(F) had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. 10 For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His.(G) 11 Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and effective(H) and sharper than any double-edged sword,(I) penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.(J) 13 No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom(K) we must give an account.

Our Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession.(L) 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are,(M) yet without sin.(N) 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:1 Or that any of you might seem to have missed it
  2. Hebrews 4:2 Other mss read since it was not united by faith in those who heard
  3. Hebrews 4:3 Or rest), just as
  4. Hebrews 4:3 Ps 95:11
  5. Hebrews 4:4 Gn 2:2
  6. Hebrews 4:5 Ps 95:11
  7. Hebrews 4:7 Ps 95:7-8

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.(A) For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a](B) Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b](C)

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c](D) And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”(E)

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,(F) God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”[d](G)

For if Joshua had given them rest,(H) God would not have spoken(I) later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e](J) just as God did from his.(K) 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.(L)

12 For the word of God(M) is alive(N) and active.(O) Sharper than any double-edged sword,(P) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Q) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.(R) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest(S) who has ascended into heaven,[f](T) Jesus the Son of God,(U) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.(V) 15 For we do not have a high priest(W) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are(X)—yet he did not sin.(Y) 16 Let us then approach(Z) God’s throne of grace with confidence,(AA) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
  2. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
  3. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
  4. Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
  5. Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
  6. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens