Hebrews 13
English Standard Version
Sacrifices Pleasing to God
13 Let (A)brotherly love continue. 2 (B)Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby (C)some have entertained angels unawares. 3 (D)Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 (E)Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge (F)the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life (G)free from love of money, and (H)be content with what you have, for he has said, (I)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
7 Remember (L)your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and (M)imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is (N)the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be (O)led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, (P)not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar (Q)from which those who serve the tent[a] have no right to eat. 11 For (R)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned (S)outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also (T)suffered (U)outside the gate in order to sanctify the people (V)through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear (W)the reproach he endured. 14 For (X)here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 (Y)Through him then let us continually offer up (Z)a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (AA)the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and (AB)to share what you have, for such (AC)sacrifices are pleasing to God.
17 Obey (AD)your leaders and submit to them, (AE)for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to (AF)give an account. (AG)Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 (AH)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order (AI)that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction
20 Now (AJ)may the God of peace (AK)who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, (AL)the great shepherd of the sheep, by (AM)the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 (AN)equip you with everything good that you may do his will, (AO)working in us[b] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, (AP)to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
22 I appeal to you, brothers,[c] bear with my word of exhortation, for (AQ)I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that (AR)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all (AS)your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 (AT)Grace be with all of you.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:10 Or tabernacle
- Hebrews 13:21 Some manuscripts you
- Hebrews 13:22 Or brothers and sisters
Hebrews 13
Common English Bible
Our acts of service and sacrifice
13 Keep loving each other like family. 2 Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it. 3 Remember prisoners as if you were in prison with them, and people who are mistreated as if you were in their place. 4 Marriage must be honored in every respect, with no cheating on the relationship, because God will judge the sexually immoral person and the person who commits adultery. 5 Your way of life should be free from the love of money, and you should be content with what you have. After all, he has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.[a] 6 This is why we can confidently say,
The Lord is my helper,
and I won’t be afraid.
What can people do to me?[b]
7 Remember your leaders who spoke God’s word to you. Imitate their faith as you consider the way their lives turned out. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
9 Don’t be misled by the many strange teachings out there. It’s a good thing for the heart to be strengthened by grace rather than by food. Food doesn’t help those who live in this context. 10 We have an altar, and those who serve as priests in the meeting tent don’t have the right to eat from it. 11 The blood of the animals is carried into the holy of holies by the high priest as an offering for sin, and their bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy with his own blood.
13 So now, let’s go to him outside the camp, bearing his shame. 14 We don’t have a permanent city here, but rather we are looking for the city that is still to come.
15 So let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise through him, which is the fruit from our lips that confess his name. 16 Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.
Closing greeting and blessing
17 Rely on your leaders and defer to them, because they watch over your whole being as people who are going to be held responsible for you. They need to be able to do this with pleasure and not with complaints about you, because that wouldn’t help you. 18 Pray for us. We’re sure that we have a good conscience, and we want to do the right thing in every way. 19 I’m particularly asking you to do this so that I can be returned to you quickly.
20 May the God of peace,
who brought back the great shepherd of the sheep,
our Lord Jesus,
from the dead by the blood of the eternal covenant,
21 equip you with every good thing to do his will,
by developing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory forever and always. Amen.
22 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to put up with this message of encouragement, since I’ve only written a short letter to you! 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, we will travel together to see you.
24 Greet your leaders and all of God’s holy people. The group from Italy greets you.
25 May grace be with all of you.
Footnotes
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible