Hebrews 12:7-17

English Standard Version

⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. ^(A)God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, ^(B)in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to ^(C)the Father of spirits ^(D)and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, ^(E)that we may share his holiness. ^11 (F)For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields ^(G)the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore ^(H)lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, ¹³ and ^(I)make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint ^(J)but rather be healed. ^14 (K)Strive for peace with everyone, and for the ^(L)holiness ^(M)without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(N)fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ^(O)“root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶ that no one is ^(P)sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that ^(Q)afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.