Hebrews 12
American Standard Version
12 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every [a]weight, and the sin which [b]doth so easily beset us, and let us run with [c]patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus the [d]author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against [e]himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin: 5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons,
[f]My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord,
Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 [g]It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of [h]spirits, and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. 11 All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness. 12 Wherefore [i]lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees; 13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not [j]turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 looking carefully [k]lest there be any man that [l]falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled; 16 [m]lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright. 17 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was [n]rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.
18 For ye are not come unto [o]a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them; 20 for they could not endure that which was enjoined, [p]If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; 21 and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, [q]I exceedingly fear and quake: 22 but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, [r]and to [s]innumerable hosts of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better [t]than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him [u]that warneth from heaven: 26 whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, [v]Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have [w]grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with [x]reverence and awe: 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 12:1 Or, encumbrance
- Hebrews 12:1 Or, doth closely cling to us. Or, is admired of many
- Hebrews 12:1 Or, stedfastness
- Hebrews 12:2 Or, captain
- Hebrews 12:3 Many ancient authorities read themselves. Compare Num. 16:38.
- Hebrews 12:5 Prov. 3:11f.
- Hebrews 12:7 Or, Endure unto chastening
- Hebrews 12:9 Or, our spirits
- Hebrews 12:12 Greek make straight.
- Hebrews 12:13 Or, put out of joint
- Hebrews 12:15 Or, whether
- Hebrews 12:15 Or, falleth back from
- Hebrews 12:16 Or, whether
- Hebrews 12:17 Or, rejected (for he found no place of repentance), etc. Or, rejected; for . . . of repentance etc. Compare 6:6; 2 Esdr. 9:11; Wisd. 12:10.
- Hebrews 12:18 Or, a palpable and kindled fire
- Hebrews 12:20 Ex. 19:12f.
- Hebrews 12:21 Dt. 9:19.
- Hebrews 12:22 Or, and to innumerable hosts, the general assembly of angels, and the church etc.
- Hebrews 12:22 Greek myriads of angels.
- Hebrews 12:24 Or, than Abel
- Hebrews 12:25 Or, that is from heaven
- Hebrews 12:26 Hag. 2:6.
- Hebrews 12:28 Or, thankfulness. Compare 1 Cor. 10:30.
- Hebrews 12:28 Or, godly fear. Compare 5:7.
Hebrews 12
New American Standard Bible 1995
Jesus, the Example
12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also (A)lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us (B)run with (C)endurance the race that is set before us, 2 [a]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the [b](D)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him (E)endured the cross, (F)despising the shame, and has (G)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For (H)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary [c](I)and lose heart.
A Father’s Discipline
4 (J)You have not yet resisted [d](K)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“(L)My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor (M)faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 (N)For those (O)whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; (P)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, (Q)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had [e]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we (R)respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to (S)the Father of [f]spirits, and (T)live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, (U)so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline (V)for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the (W)peaceful fruit of righteousness.
12 Therefore, [g](X)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and (Y)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather (Z)be healed.
14 (AA)Pursue peace with all men, and the (AB)sanctification without which no one will (AC)see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one (AD)comes short of the grace of God; that no (AE)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be (AF)defiled; 16 that there be no (AG)immoral or (AH)godless person like Esau, (AI)who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, (AJ)when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Contrast of Sinai and Zion
18 (AK)For you have not come to (AL)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the (AM)blast of a trumpet and the (AN)sound of words which sound was such that those who heard (AO)begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “(AP)If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “(AQ)I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But (AR)you have come to Mount Zion and to (AS)the city of (AT)the living God, (AU)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to (AV)myriads of [h]angels, 23 to the general assembly and (AW)church of the firstborn who (AX)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, (AY)the Judge of all, and to the (AZ)spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the (BA)mediator of a new covenant, and to the (BB)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than (BC)the blood of Abel.
The Unshaken Kingdom
25 (BD)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is (BE)speaking. For (BF)if those did not escape when they (BG)refused him who (BH)warned them on earth, [i]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who (BI)warns from heaven. 26 And (BJ)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “(BK)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes (BL)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a (BM)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us [j]show gratitude, by which we may (BN)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for (BO)our God is a consuming fire.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 12:2 Lit looking to
- Hebrews 12:2 Or leader
- Hebrews 12:3 Lit fainting in your souls
- Hebrews 12:4 Lit as far as blood
- Hebrews 12:9 Lit fathers of our flesh
- Hebrews 12:9 Or our spirits
- Hebrews 12:12 Lit make straight
- Hebrews 12:22 Or angels in festive gathering, and to the church
- Hebrews 12:25 Lit much rather we will not escape...
- Hebrews 12:28 Lit have
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
