¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{(A) 13} “Make level paths for your feet,”^[a](B) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^(C)

Warning and Encouragement

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^(D) and to be holy;^(E) without holiness no one will see the Lord.^{(F) 15} See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God^(G) and that no bitter root^(H) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See that no one is sexually immoral,^(I) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.^{(J) 17} Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,^(K) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{(L) 19} to a trumpet blast^(M) or to such a voice speaking words^(N) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(O) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[b](P) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[c](Q)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(R) to the city^(S) of the living God,^(T) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(U) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(V) whose names are written in heaven.^(W) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(X) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(Y) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(Z) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(AA) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(AB)