竭力进入安息

所以,既然那进入神[a]安息的应许还存留,我们就该惧怕,免得我们[b]当中有人看来达不到了。 实际上,我们也是得以听到福音的,就像他们那样;但是他们所听的话语对他们没有益处,因为他们没有因着信,与所听的相配合。 其实,我们这些相信的才能进入那安息,正如神所说:

“所以我在自己的震怒中起誓:
‘他们绝不能进入我的安息。’”[c]

事实上,神的工作从创世以来,就已经完成了。 原来关于第七日,他在经上某处这样说:

“神在第七日,
歇了他所有的工作。”[d]

在这里他又说:“他们绝不能进入我的安息。”[e] 所以,既然这安息为了一些进入它的人被保留下来,可是由于那些原先得以听到福音的人,因着不信从而没有进去, 神就再次设定了一个日子——“今天”,就是在很久以后藉着大卫所说的,像预先说过[f]的那样:

“今天,你们如果听见他的声音,
就不可硬着你们的心。”[g]

如果约书亚已经使他们得了安息,神后来就不会再说到另一个日子了。 这样,就有一个“安息日的安息”为了神的子民被保留下来。 10 原来,那进了神[h]安息的人,也歇了自己的工作,就像神歇了自己的工作那样。 11 所以,我们要努力进入那安息,免得有人照着那同样不信从的样式跌落了。

12 神的话语[i]是有生命的,是有功效的;比任何双刃的剑更锋利,能刺透到魂和灵的分界,以及骨节和骨髓的分界,也能辨明心中的思想和意念; 13 并且被造之物在神面前,没有一样不是显明的;万有在他眼前,都是赤裸敞开的;我们都要向他交代。

我们的大祭司

14 所以,我们既然有一位已经越过了诸天的、尊贵的大祭司——神的儿子耶稣,我们就要持守信仰[j]告白; 15 因为我们的大祭司不是不能同情我们的种种软弱,而是在各方面照着与我们相同的样式受过试探,只是没有犯罪。 16 因此,让我们坦然无惧地来到恩典的宝座前,为要得着怜悯,寻见恩典,做为及时的帮助。

Footnotes

  1. 希伯来书 4:1 神——原文直译“他”。
  2. 希伯来书 4:1 我们——原文直译“你们”。
  3. 希伯来书 4:3 《诗篇》95:11。
  4. 希伯来书 4:4 《创世记》2:2。
  5. 希伯来书 4:5 《诗篇》95:11。
  6. 希伯来书 4:7 预先说过——有古抄本作“已经说过”。
  7. 希伯来书 4:7 《诗篇》95:7-8。
  8. 希伯来书 4:10 神——原文直译“他”。
  9. 希伯来书 4:12 神的话语——或译作“神的道”。
  10. 希伯来书 4:14 信仰——辅助词语。

·Now [Therefore], since ·God has left us the promise [the promise remains/still stands] that we may enter his rest, let us ·be very careful [beware; be wary/afraid] so none of you will ·fail to enter [appear/be found to fall short]. [L For] The ·Good News [Gospel] was preached to us just as it was to them. But the ·teaching [message; word] they heard did not help them, because they heard it but did not ·accept [combine; join] it with faith.[a] [L For; Now] We who have believed are able to enter ·and have God’s rest [L the rest]. As God has said,

“I was angry and ·made a promise [declared/swore an oath],
    ‘They will never enter my rest [Ps. 95:11].’”

But God’s work was finished from the ·time he made [foundation/creation of] the world. ·In the Scriptures [L For somewhere] he talked about the seventh day of the week: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his works [Gen. 2:2].” And again in ·the Scripture [or this passage; C Psalm 95, the passage the author has been discussing] God said, “They will never enter my rest [Ps. 95:11].”

·It is still true that some people will [or This passage shows that some can still] enter God’s rest, but those who ·first [or formerly] ·heard the way to be saved [L had the Good News/Gospel proclaimed to them] did not enter, because they did not ·obey [believe; remain faithful]. So God ·planned [set; established; ordained] another day, called “today” [3:13]. He spoke about that day through David a long time later in the ·same Scripture used before [words quoted before]:

“Today ·listen to what he says [L if you hear his voice…].
    Do not ·be stubborn [L harden your hearts; Ps. 95:7–8].”

  [L For; Now] If Joshua [C Moses’ successor, who led God’s people into the Promised Land; Josh. 3—4] had ·led the people into that [L given them] rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. This shows that the ·rest [L Sabbath rest; C sharing in the rest God enjoyed after Creation] for God’s people ·is still coming [or is still available; L remains]. 10 [L For] Anyone who enters God’s rest ·will rest [or has also rested] from his work as God did. 11 Let us ·try as hard as we can [strive; make every effort] to enter ·God’s [L that] rest so that no one will ·fail [be lost; L fall] by following the example of those who ·refused to obey [or did not believe; were unfaithful].

12 [L For] God’s word is alive and ·working [active; powerful; effective] and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It ·cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones [L penetrates until it divides even soul and spirit, joints and marrow]. And it ·judges [discerns] the ·thoughts [ideas] and ·feelings [attitudes; intentions] in our hearts. 13 ·Nothing in all the world [Nothing in all creation; or No creature] can be hidden from God. Everything is ·clear [naked] and ·lies open before him [L exposed to his eyes], and to him we must ·explain the way we have lived [give an account; answer].

Jesus Is Our High Priest

14 [L Therefore] Since we have a great high priest [2:17–18], Jesus the Son of God, who has ·gone into [ascended to; or passed through] ·heaven [or the heavens], let us hold ·on [firmly] to ·the faith we have [L the confession/profession; C of our faith]. 15 ·For our high priest is able [L For we do not have a high priest who is unable] to ·understand [sympathize with] our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. 16 Let us, then, ·feel very sure that we can come before [L confidently approach] God’s throne ·where there is grace [L of grace; C as opposed to a throne of judgment and condemnation]. There we can receive mercy and ·grace [L find grace] to help us ·when we need it [L at the right time].

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:2 because … faith Some Greek copies read “because they did not share the faith of those who heard it.”