Hebrews 4

New International Version

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.^(A) ²For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.^[a]^(B) ³Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”^[b]^(C)

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. ⁴For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”^[c]^(D) ⁵And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”^(E)

⁶Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,^(F) ⁷God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”^[d]^(G)

⁸For if Joshua had given them rest,^(H) God would not have spoken^(I) later about another day. ⁹There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,^[e]^(J) just as God did from his.^(K) ¹¹Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.^(L)

¹²For the word of God^(M) is alive^(N) and active.^(O) Sharper than any double-edged sword,^(P) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.^(Q) ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.^(R) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest^(S) who has ascended into heaven,^[f]^(T) Jesus the Son of God,^(U) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.^(V) ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest^(W) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are^(X)—yet he did not sin.^(Y) ¹⁶Let us then approach^(Z) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(AA) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Footnotes

Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens

Psalm 118

New International Version

Psalm 118

¹Give thanks to the Lord,^(A) for he is good;^(B)
his love endures forever.^(C)

²Let Israel say:^(D)
    “His love endures forever.”^(E)
³Let the house of Aaron say:^(F)
    “His love endures forever.”
⁴Let those who fear the Lord^(G) say:
    “His love endures forever.”

⁵When hard pressed,^(H) I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.^(I)
⁶The Lord is with me;^(J) I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?^(K)
⁷The Lord is with me; he is my helper.^(L)
    I look in triumph on my enemies.^(M)

⁸It is better to take refuge in the Lord^(N)
    than to trust in humans.^(O)
⁹It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.^(P)
¹⁰All the nations surrounded me,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.^(Q)
¹¹They surrounded me^(R) on every side,^(S)
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
¹²They swarmed around me like bees,^(T)
    but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;^(U)
    in the name of the Lord I cut them down.^(V)
¹³I was pushed back and about to fall,
    but the Lord helped me.^(W)
¹⁴The Lord is my strength^(X) and my defense^[a];
    he has become my salvation.^(Y)

¹⁵Shouts of joy^(Z) and victory
    resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand^(AA) has done mighty things!^(AB)
¹⁶    The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
¹⁷I will not die^(AC) but live,
    and will proclaim^(AD) what the Lord has done.
¹⁸The Lord has chastened^(AE) me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.^(AF)
¹⁹Open for me the gates^(AG) of the righteous;
    I will enter^(AH) and give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰This is the gate of the Lord^(AI)
    through which the righteous may enter.^(AJ)
²¹I will give you thanks, for you answered me;^(AK)
    you have become my salvation.^(AL)

²²The stone^(AM) the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;^(AN)
²³the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous^(AO) in our eyes.
²⁴The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.^(AP)

²⁵Lord, save us!^(AQ)
Lord, grant us success!

²⁶Blessed is he who comes^(AR) in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.^[b]^(AS)
²⁷The Lord is God,^(AT)
    and he has made his light shine^(AU) on us.
With boughs in hand,^(AV) join in the festal procession
    up^[c] to the horns of the altar.^(AW)

²⁸You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God,^(AX) and I will exalt^(AY) you.

²⁹Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Footnotes

Psalm 118:14 Or song
Psalm 118:26 The Hebrew is plural.
Psalm 118:27 Or Bind the festal sacrifice with ropes / and take it

Isaiah 54-56

New International Version

The Future Glory of Zion

54 “Sing, barren woman,^(A)
    you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,^(B)
    you who were never in labor;^(C)
because more are the children^(D) of the desolate^(E) woman
    than of her who has a husband,^(F)”
says the Lord.
²“Enlarge the place of your tent,^(G)
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes.^(H)
³For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
    your descendants^(I) will dispossess nations^(J)
    and settle in their desolate^(K) cities.

⁴“Do not be afraid;^(L) you will not be put to shame.^(M)
    Do not fear disgrace;^(N) you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth^(O)
    and remember no more the reproach^(P) of your widowhood.^(Q)
⁵For your Maker^(R) is your husband^(S)—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One^(T) of Israel is your Redeemer;^(U)
    he is called the God of all the earth.^(V)
⁶The Lord will call you back^(W)
    as if you were a wife deserted^(X) and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,^(Y)
    only to be rejected,” says your God.
⁷“For a brief moment^(Z) I abandoned^(AA) you,
    but with deep compassion^(AB) I will bring you back.^(AC)
⁸In a surge of anger^(AD)
    I hid^(AE) my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness^(AF)
    I will have compassion^(AG) on you,”
    says the Lord your Redeemer.^(AH)

⁹“To me this is like the days of Noah,
    when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.^(AI)
So now I have sworn^(AJ) not to be angry^(AK) with you,
    never to rebuke^(AL) you again.
¹⁰Though the mountains be shaken^(AM)
    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love^(AN) for you will not be shaken^(AO)
    nor my covenant^(AP) of peace^(AQ) be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion^(AR) on you.

¹¹“Afflicted^(AS) city, lashed by storms^(AT) and not comforted,^(AU)
    I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,^[a]^(AV)
    your foundations^(AW) with lapis lazuli.^(AX)
¹²I will make your battlements of rubies,
    your gates^(AY) of sparkling jewels,
    and all your walls of precious stones.
¹³All your children will be taught by the Lord,^(AZ)
    and great will be their peace.^(BA)
¹⁴In righteousness^(BB) you will be established:^(BC)
Tyranny^(BD) will be far from you;
    you will have nothing to fear.^(BE)
Terror^(BF) will be far removed;
    it will not come near you.
¹⁵If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
    whoever attacks you will surrender^(BG) to you.

¹⁶“See, it is I who created the blacksmith^(BH)
    who fans the coals into flame
    and forges a weapon^(BI) fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer^(BJ) to wreak havoc;
¹⁷    no weapon forged against you will prevail,^(BK)
    and you will refute^(BL) every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants^(BM) of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication^(BN) from me,”
declares the Lord.

Invitation to the Thirsty

55 “Come, all you who are thirsty,^(BO)
    come to the waters;^(BP)
and you who have no money,
    come, buy^(BQ) and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk^(BR)
    without money and without cost.^(BS)
²Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?^(BT)
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,^(BU)
    and you will delight in the richest^(BV) of fare.
³Give ear and come to me;
    listen,^(BW) that you may live.^(BX)
I will make an everlasting covenant^(BY) with you,
    my faithful love^(BZ) promised to David.^(CA)
⁴See, I have made him a witness^(CB) to the peoples,
    a ruler and commander^(CC) of the peoples.
⁵Surely you will summon nations^(CD) you know not,
    and nations you do not know will come running to you,^(CE)
because of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One^(CF) of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.”^(CG)

⁶Seek^(CH) the Lord while he may be found;^(CI)
    call^(CJ) on him while he is near.
⁷Let the wicked forsake^(CK) their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.^(CL)
Let them turn^(CM) to the Lord, and he will have mercy^(CN) on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.^(CO)

⁸“For my thoughts^(CP) are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”^(CQ)
declares the Lord.
⁹“As the heavens are higher than the earth,^(CR)
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.^(CS)
¹⁰As the rain^(CT) and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,^(CU)
    so that it yields seed^(CV) for the sower and bread for the eater,^(CW)
¹¹so is my word^(CX) that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,^(CY)
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose^(CZ) for which I sent it.
¹²You will go out in joy^(DA)
    and be led forth in peace;^(DB)
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song^(DC) before you,
and all the trees^(DD) of the field
    will clap their hands.^(DE)
¹³Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers^(DF) the myrtle^(DG) will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,^(DH)
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

Salvation for Others

56 This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice^(DI)
    and do what is right,^(DJ)
for my salvation^(DK) is close at hand
    and my righteousness^(DL) will soon be revealed.
²Blessed^(DM) is the one who does this—
    the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath^(DN) without desecrating it,
    and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

³Let no foreigner^(DO) who is bound to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”^(DP)
And let no eunuch^(DQ) complain,
“I am only a dry tree.”

⁴For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs^(DR) who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose what pleases me
    and hold fast to my covenant^(DS)—
⁵to them I will give within my temple and its walls^(DT)
    a memorial^(DU) and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name^(DV)
    that will endure forever.^(DW)
⁶And foreigners^(DX) who bind themselves to the Lord
    to minister^(DY) to him,
to love the name^(DZ) of the Lord,
    and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath^(EA) without desecrating it
    and who hold fast to my covenant—
⁷these I will bring to my holy mountain^(EB)
    and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices^(EC)
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
    a house of prayer for all nations.^(ED)”^(EE)
⁸The Sovereign Lord declares—
    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather^(EF) still others to them
    besides those already gathered.”

God’s Accusation Against the Wicked

⁹Come, all you beasts of the field,^(EG)
    come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
¹⁰Israel’s watchmen^(EH) are blind,
    they all lack knowledge;^(EI)
they are all mute dogs,
    they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
    they love to sleep.^(EJ)
¹¹They are dogs with mighty appetites;
    they never have enough.
They are shepherds^(EK) who lack understanding;^(EL)
    they all turn to their own way,^(EM)
    they seek their own gain.^(EN)
¹²“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!^(EO)
    Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
    or even far better.”^(EP)

Footnotes

Isaiah 54:11 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

New International Version (NIV)

Hebrews 4

New International Version

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

Jesus the Great High Priest

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 118

New International Version

Psalm 118

Footnotes

Cross references

Isaiah 54-56

New International Version

The Future Glory of Zion

Invitation to the Thirsty

Salvation for Others

God’s Accusation Against the Wicked

Footnotes

Cross references

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Hebrews 4 New International Version

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

Jesus the Great High Priest

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Psalm 118 New International Version

Psalm 118

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Cross references

Isaiah 54-56 New International Version

The Future Glory of Zion

Invitation to the Thirsty

Salvation for Others

God’s Accusation Against the Wicked

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Bible Gateway Recommends

Hebrews 4

New International Version

Psalm 118

New International Version

Isaiah 54-56

New International Version