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12 Prandaj edhe ne, duke qenë të rrethuar nga një re kaq e madhe dëshmimtarësh, duke hedhur tej çdo barrë dhe mëkatin që na qarkon vazhdimisht duke na joshur, le të rendim me durim në udhën që është përpara nesh,

duke i drejtuar sytë te Jezusi, kreu dhe plotësonjësi i besimit, i cili, për gëzimin që ishte përpara tij, duroi kryqin duke e përçmuar fyerjen dhe u ul në të djathtën e fronit të Perëndisë.

Kujtoni, pra, atë që duroi një kundërshtim të tillë nga ana e mëkatarëve kundër tij, që të mos lodheni dhe të ligështoheni në shpirtin tuaj.

Ju akoma nuk keni qëndruar deri në gjak, duke luftuar kundër mëkatit,

dhe keni harruar këshillën që ju drejtohet juve porsi bijve: “Biri im, mos e përçmo qortimin e Perëndisë dhe mos e humb zemrën kur ai të qorton,

sepse Perëndia ndreq atë që do dhe fshikullon çdo bir që i pëlqen.”

Në qoftë se ju do ta duroni qortimin, Perëndia do t’ju trajtojë si bij; sepse cilin bir nuk e korigjon i ati?

Por, po të mbeteni të pandrequr, ku të gjithë u bënë pjestarë, atëherë jeni kopila dhe jo bij.

Pastaj etërit tanë sipas mishit i patëm për të na ndrequr dhe i nderonim ata; a nuk do t’i nënshtrohemi edhe më tepër Atit të shpirtrave, për të jetuar?

10 Sepse ata na ndreqën për pak ditë, ashtu siç u dukej më mirë, kurse ai na ndreq për të mirën tonë që të bëhemi pjestarë të shenjtërisë së tij.

11 Çdo ndreqje, pra, aty për aty, nuk duket se sjell gëzim, po hidhërim; por më pas u jep një fryt drejtësie atyre që janë ushtruar me anë të tij.

12 Prandaj forconi duart e kapitura dhe gjunjët e këputur,

13 dhe bëni shtigje të drejta për këmbët tuaja, që ajo e cila çalon të mos ndrydhet, por më tepër të shërohet.

14 Kërkoni paqe me të gjithë dhe shenjtërim, pa të cilin askush nuk ka për të parë Perëndinë,

15 duke u kujdesur fort që askush të mos mbetet pa hirin e Perëndisë dhe se mos mbijë ndonjë rrënjë e hidhur dhe t’ju turbullojë dhe me anë të saj të ndoten shumë njerëz;

16 se mos ndodhet ndonjë kurvar ose profan, si Esau, i cili për një gjellë shiti të drejtën e tij të parëbirnisë.

17 Sepse e dini se, më pas, kur ai deshi të trashëgojë bekimin, iu refuzua, ndonëse e kërkoi me lot, sepse nuk gjeti vend pendimi.

18 Sepse ju nuk iu afruat malit që mund të kapet me dorë dhe që digjet me zjarr, as errësirës, as territ, as stuhisë,

19 as zërit të borisë, as zërit të fjalëve, të cilin ata që e dëgjuan u lutën që atyre të mos u drejtohej më asnjë fjalë,

20 sepse nuk mund të duronin urdhërin: “Në se edhe një shtazë e prek malin, të vritet me gurë ose me shigjeta”;

21 dhe aq e llahtarshme ishte pamja, sa Moisiu tha: “Unë jam i frikësuar dhe po dridhem i tëri.”

22 Por ju iu afruat malit Sion dhe qytetit të Perëndisë së gjallë, që është Jeruzalemi qiellor, edhe morisë së engjëjve,

23 kuvendit universal dhe kishës të të parëlindurve që janë shkruar në qiej, Perëndisë, gjykatësit të të gjithëve, shpirtërave të të drejtëve që u bënë të përsosur,

24 dhe Jezusit, Ndërmjetësit të Besëlidhjes së re, dhe gjakut të spërkatjes, që flet më mirë se ai i Abelit.

25 Shikoni se mos refuzoni atë që flet, sepse në qoftë se nuk shpëtuan ata që refuzuan të dëgjojnë atë që fliste si orakull mbi dhe, aq më pak do të shpëtojmë ne, po të mos refuzojmë të dëgjojmë atë që flet prej qiellit,

26 zëri i të cilit e drodhi atëherë dheun, por tashti bëri këtë premtim, duke thënë: “Unë edhe një herë do të tund jo vetëm dheun, por edhe qiellin.”

27 Dhe kjo fjalë "edhe një herë" tregon ndryshueshmërinë e gjërave, që tunden, si të bëra me dorë, që të mbeten ato që nuk tunden.

28 Prandaj, duke marrë mbretërinë të patundur, le ta ruajmë këtë hir me anë të të cilit i shërbejmë Perëndisë në një mënyrë të pëlqyeshme, me nderim e me frikë,

29 sepse Perëndia ynë është një zjarr që konsumon.

Running the Race with Discipline

12 Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us, focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. [a] Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and lose heart.

In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed. Have you forgotten the warning addressed to you as sons?

“My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai
or lose heart when you are corrected by Him,
because Adonai disciplines the one He loves
and punishes every son He accepts.”[b]

It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons—for what son does a father not discipline? But if you are without discipline—something all have come to share—then you are illegitimate and not sons. Besides, we are used to having human fathers as instructors—and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 Indeed, for a short time they disciplined us as seemed best to them; but He does so for our benefit, so that we may share in His holiness. 11 Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble! [c] 13 And make straight paths for your feet,[d] so that what is lame will not be pulled out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Pursue shalom with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; and see to it that no bitter root springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled. 16 Also see to it that there is no immoral or godless person—like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. [e] 17 For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He found no chance for repentance, though he begged for it with tears.[f]

Entering the Unshakeable Kingdom

18 For you have not come to a mountain[g] that can be touched, and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and storm, 19 and to the blast of a shofar[h] and a voice whose words made those who heard it beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” [i] 21 So terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am quaking with fear.”[j]

22 But you have come to Mount Zion—to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,[k] and to myriads of angels, a joyous gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn[l] who are written in a scroll in heaven,[m] and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones made perfect, 24 and to Yeshua, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse the One who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the One who was warning them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject the One who warns us from heaven. 26 His voice shook the earth then,[n] but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” [o] 27 Now this phrase, “Yet once more,” shows the removal of those things that are shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. [p] 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude—through this we may offer worship in a manner pleasing to God, with reverence and awe. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

The Example of Jesus

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[a] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,(A) looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of[b] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.(B)

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,[c] so that you may not grow weary in your souls or lose heart.(C) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—

“My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord
    or lose heart when you are punished by him,(D)
for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves
    and chastises every child whom he accepts.”(E)

Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children, for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?(F) If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.(G) Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.(H) 11 Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.(I)

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees(J) 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.(K)

Warnings against Rejecting God’s Grace

14 Pursue peace with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and through it many become defiled.(L) 16 See to it that no one becomes an immoral and godless person, as Esau was, who sold his birthright for a single meal.(M) 17 You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing[d] with tears.(N)

18 You have not come to something[e] that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest,(O) 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.(P) 20 (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.”(Q) 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”)(R) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,(S) 23 and to the assembly[f] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,(T) 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(U)

25 See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking, for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!(V) 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.”(W) 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.(X) 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, 29 for indeed our God is a consuming fire.(Y)

Footnotes

  1. 12.1 Other ancient authorities read sin that easily distracts
  2. 12.2 Or who instead of
  3. 12.3 Other ancient authorities read such hostility from sinners against themselves
  4. 12.17 Gk it
  5. 12.18 Other ancient authorities read a mountain
  6. 12.23 Or angels, and to the festal gathering and assembly