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For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall never enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this place he said,

“They shall never enter my rest.”

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, when you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, God[a] would not speak later of another day. So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; 10 for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:8 Greek he

Now 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.’”[a](A)

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

Therefore 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,(D) God 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.”[c](E)

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

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

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest(Q) who has ascended into heaven,[e](R) Jesus the Son of God,(S) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.(T) 15 For we do not have a high priest(U) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are(V)—yet he did not sin.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
  2. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
  3. Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
  4. Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
  5. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens