For (A)whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

(B)If[a] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what (C)son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, (D)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to (E)the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, (F)that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no [b]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields (G)the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Renew Your Spiritual Vitality(H)

12 Therefore (I)strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 (J)Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, (K)without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone (L)fall short of the grace of God; lest any (M)root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any (N)fornicator or [c]profane person like Esau, (O)who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was (P)rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:7 NU, M It is for discipline that you endure; God
  2. Hebrews 12:11 discipline
  3. Hebrews 12:16 godless

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,(A)
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a](B)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.(C) For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline(D)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits(E) and live!(F) 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.(G) 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace(H) for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.(I) 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b](J) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.(K)

Warning and Encouragement

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

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  2. Hebrews 12:13 Prov. 4:26