Sacrifices Pleasing to God

13 Let (A)brotherly love continue. (B)Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby (C)some have entertained angels unawares. (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. (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. 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.” So we can confidently say,

(J)“The Lord is my helper;
    (K)I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

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. Jesus Christ is (N)the same yesterday and today and forever. 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

  1. Hebrews 13:10 Or tabernacle
  2. Hebrews 13:21 Some manuscripts you
  3. Hebrews 13:22 Or brothers and sisters

Concluding Words

13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.[a] Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.
    I will never abandon you.”[b]

So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,
    so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?”[c]

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

10 We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle[d] have no right to eat. 11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

20 Now may the God of peace—
    who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
    and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21 may he equip you with all you need
    for doing his will.
May he produce in you,[e]
    through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
    All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

22 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,[f] to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.

24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there.[g] The believers from Italy send you their greetings.

25 May God’s grace be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Greek Continue in brotherly love.
  2. 13:5 Deut 31:6, 8.
  3. 13:6 Ps 118:6.
  4. 13:10 Or tent.
  5. 13:21 Some manuscripts read in us.
  6. 13:22 Greek brothers.
  7. 13:24 Greek all of God’s holy people.

Final Exhortations

13 Let brotherly love(A) continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.(B) Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated,[a] as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.[b] Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.(C) Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.[c](D) Therefore, we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?[d](E)

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.(F) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.(G) Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.(H) 10 We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.(I) 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest(J) as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.(K) 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate,(L) so that he might sanctify[e] the people by his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace.(M) 14 For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.(N) 15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.(O) 16 Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.(P) 17 Obey your leaders[f] and submit to them, since they keep watch(Q) over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.(R) 19 And I urge you all the more to pray[g] that I may be restored to you very soon.

Benediction and Farewell

20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep(S)—through the blood of the everlasting covenant,(T) 21 equip[h] you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.[i](U) Amen.

22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with you all.(V)

Footnotes

  1. 13:3 Or tortured
  2. 13:3 Or mistreated, since you are also in a body
  3. 13:5 Dt 31:6
  4. 13:6 Ps 118:6
  5. 13:12 Or set apart, or consecrate
  6. 13:17 Or rulers
  7. 13:19 Lit to do this
  8. 13:21 Or perfect
  9. 13:21 Other mss omit and ever

The Changeless Christ

13 Let (A)love of the brothers and sisters continue. Do not neglect (B)hospitality to strangers, for by this some have (C)entertained angels without knowing it. (D)Remember (E)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. (F)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; (G)for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Make sure that your character is (H)free from the love of money, (I)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “(J)I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” so that we confidently say,

(K)The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”

Remember (L)those who led you, who spoke (M)the word of God to you; and considering the [a]result of their way of life, (N)imitate their faith. (O)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. (P)Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to (Q)be strengthened by grace, not by (R)foods, (S)through which those who [b]were so occupied were not benefited. 10 We have an altar (T)from which those (U)who serve the [c]tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For (V)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered (W)outside the gate, (X)that He might sanctify the people (Y)through His own blood. 13 So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, (Z)bearing His reproach. 14 For here (AA)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking (AB)the city which is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

15 (AC)Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a (AD)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (AE)the fruit of lips praising His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and (AF)sharing, for (AG)with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 (AH)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for (AI)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not [d]groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.

18 (AJ)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a (AK)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, (AL)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Benediction

20 Now may (AM)the God of peace, who (AN)brought up from the dead the (AO)great Shepherd of the sheep [e]through (AP)the blood of the (AQ)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, 21 (AR)equip you in every good thing to do His will, (AS)working in us that (AT)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, (AU)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 But (AV)I urge you, (AW)brothers and sisters, [f]listen patiently to [g]this (AX)word of exhortation, for (AY)I have written to you briefly. 23 Know that (AZ)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet (BA)all of your leaders and all the [h](BB)saints. Those from (BC)Italy greet you.

25 (BD)Grace be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 13:7 Or end of their life
  2. Hebrews 13:9 Lit walked
  3. Hebrews 13:10 Or sacred tent
  4. Hebrews 13:17 Or sighing
  5. Hebrews 13:20 Lit in
  6. Hebrews 13:22 Or listen to
  7. Hebrews 13:22 Lit the
  8. Hebrews 13:24 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people