Hebrews 10:19-13:25

New American Standard Bible 1995

A New and Living Way

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, since we ^(A)have confidence to ^(B)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(C)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through ^(D)the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(E)a great priest ^(F)over the house of God, ²² let us ^(G)draw near with a ^[a]sincere heart in ^(H)full assurance of faith, having our hearts ^(I)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(J)washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the ^(K)confession of our ^(L)hope without wavering, for ^(M)He who promised is faithful; ²⁴ and let us consider how ^(N)to stimulate one another to love and ^(O)good deeds, ²⁵ not forsaking our own ^(P)assembling together, as is the habit of some, but ^(Q)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see ^(R)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

²⁶ For if we go on ^(S)sinning willfully after receiving ^(T)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of ^(U)judgment and ^(V)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. ^28 (W)Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ^29 (X)How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve ^(Y)who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean ^(Z)the blood of the covenant ^(AA)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(AB)insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “^(AC)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “^(AD)The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a ^(AE)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the ^(AF)living God.

³² But remember ^(AG)the former days, ^[b]when, after being ^(AH)enlightened, you endured a great ^(AI)conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being ^(AJ)made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming ^(AK)sharers with those who were so treated. ³⁴ For you ^(AL)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted ^(AM)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves ^(AN)a better possession and a lasting one. ³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your ^(AO)confidence, which has a great ^(AP)reward. ³⁶ For you have need of ^(AQ)endurance, so that when you have ^(AR)done the will of God, you may ^(AS)receive ^[c]what was promised.

³⁹ But ^[d]we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the ^[e]preserving of the soul.

The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the ^[f](AW)assurance of things ^[g](AX)hoped for, the ^[h]conviction of ^(AY)things not seen. ² For by it the ^(AZ)men of old ^[i](BA)gained approval.

³ By faith we understand that the ^[j](BB)worlds were prepared ^(BC)by the word of God, so that what is seen ^(BD)was not made out of things which are visible. ⁴ By faith ^(BE)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he ^(BF)obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying ^[k]about his ^(BG)gifts, and through ^[l]faith, though ^(BH)he is dead, he still speaks. ⁵ By faith ^(BI)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ^(BJ)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who ^(BK)comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. ⁷ By faith ^(BL)Noah, being ^(BM)warned by God about ^(BN)things not yet seen, ^[m](BO)in reverence ^(BP)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(BQ)the righteousness which is according to faith.

⁸ By faith ^(BR)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed ^[n]by going out to a place which he was to ^(BS)receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as an alien in ^(BT)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(BU)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(BV)fellow heirs of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he was looking for ^(BW)the city which has ^(BX)foundations, ^(BY)whose architect and builder is God. ¹¹ By faith even ^(BZ)Sarah herself received ^[o]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him ^(CA)faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore there was born even of one man, and ^(CB)him as good as dead ^[p]at that, as many descendants ^(CC)as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

^13 (CD)All these died in faith, ^(CE)without receiving the promises, but ^(CF)having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and ^(CG)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. ¹⁵ And indeed if they had been ^[q]thinking of that country from which they went out, ^(CH)they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(CI)heavenly one. Therefore ^(CJ)God is not ^[r]ashamed to be ^(CK)called their God; for ^(CL)He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith ^(CM)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had ^(CN)received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; ¹⁸ it was he to whom it was said, “^(CO)In Isaac your ^[s]descendants shall be called.” ^19 [t]He considered that ^(CP)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back ^[u]as a ^(CQ)type. ²⁰ By faith ^(CR)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. ²¹ By faith ^(CS)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(CT)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. ²² By faith ^(CU)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

²³ By faith ^(CV)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the ^(CW)king’s edict. ²⁴ By faith Moses, ^(CX)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to ^(CY)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ^26 (CZ)considering the reproach of ^[v]Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(DA)reward. ²⁷ By faith he ^(DB)left Egypt, not ^(DC)fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as ^(DD)seeing Him who is unseen. ²⁸ By faith he ^[w](DE)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(DF)he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. ²⁹ By faith they ^(DG)passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^[x]drowned.

³⁰ By faith ^(DH)the walls of Jericho fell down ^(DI)after they had been encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith ^(DJ)Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies ^[y]in peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(DK)Gideon, ^(DL)Barak, ^(DM)Samson, ^(DN)Jephthah, of ^(DO)David and ^(DP)Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who by faith ^(DQ)conquered kingdoms, ^(DR)performed acts of righteousness, ^(DS)obtained promises, ^(DT)shut the mouths of lions, ^34 (DU)quenched the power of fire, ^(DV)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(DW)became mighty in war, ^(DX)put foreign armies to flight. ^35 (DY)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^[z]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; ³⁶ and others ^[aa]experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also ^(DZ)chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were ^(EA)stoned, they were ^(EB)sawn in two, ^[ab]they were tempted, they were ^(EC)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(ED)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(EE)ill-treated ³⁸ (men of whom the world was not worthy), ^(EF)wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes ^[ac]in the ground.

³⁹ And all these, having ^[ad](EG)gained approval through their faith, ^(EH)did not receive ^[ae]what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had ^[af]provided ^(EI)something better for us, so that ^(EJ)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also ^(EK)lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us ^(EL)run with ^(EM)endurance the race that is set before us, ^2 [ag]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the ^[ah](EN)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him ^(EO)endured the cross, ^(EP)despising the shame, and has ^(EQ)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For ^(ER)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^[ai](ES)and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

^4 (ET)You have not yet resisted ^[aj](EU)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,

⁷ It is for discipline that you endure; ^(EZ)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, ^(FA)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had ^[ak]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we ^(FB)respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to ^(FC)the Father of ^[al]spirits, and ^(FD)live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, ^(FE)so that we may share His holiness. ¹¹ All discipline ^(FF)for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the ^(FG)peaceful fruit of righteousness.

¹² Therefore, ^[am](FH)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, ¹³ and ^(FI)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather ^(FJ)be healed.

^14 (FK)Pursue peace with all men, and the ^(FL)sanctification without which no one will ^(FM)see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(FN)comes short of the grace of God; that no ^(FO)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be ^(FP)defiled; ¹⁶ that there be no ^(FQ)immoral or ^(FR)godless person like Esau, ^(FS)who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that even afterwards, ^(FT)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 (FU)For you have not come to ^(FV)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, ¹⁹ and to the ^(FW)blast of a trumpet and the ^(FX)sound of words which sound was such that those who heard ^(FY)begged that no further word be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not bear the command, “^(FZ)If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” ²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “^(GA)I am full of fear and trembling.” ²² But ^(GB)you have come to Mount Zion and to ^(GC)the city of ^(GD)the living God, ^(GE)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(GF)myriads of ^[an]angels, ²³ to the general assembly and ^(GG)church of the firstborn who ^(GH)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, ^(GI)the Judge of all, and to the ^(GJ)spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the ^(GK)mediator of a new covenant, and to the ^(GL)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than ^(GM)the blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

^25 (GN)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is ^(GO)speaking. For ^(GP)if those did not escape when they ^(GQ)refused him who ^(GR)warned them on earth, ^[ao]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who ^(GS)warns from heaven. ²⁶ And ^(GT)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “^(GU)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” ²⁷ This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes ^(GV)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 ^(GW)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us ^[ap]show gratitude, by which we may ^(GX)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ²⁹ for ^(GY)our God is a consuming fire.

The Changeless Christ

13 Let ^(GZ)love of the brethren continue. ² Do not neglect to ^(HA)show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have ^(HB)entertained angels without knowing it. ^3 (HC)Remember ^(HD)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. ^4 (HE)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; ^(HF)for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. ⁵ Make sure that your character is ^(HG)free from the love of money, ^(HH)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “^(HI)I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” ⁶ so that we confidently say,

⁷ Remember ^(HK)those who led you, who spoke ^(HL)the word of God to you; and considering the ^[aq]result of their conduct, ^(HM)imitate their faith. ^8 (HN)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ^9 (HO)Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to ^(HP)be strengthened by grace, not by ^(HQ)foods, ^(HR)through which those who ^[ar]were so occupied were not benefited. ¹⁰ We have an altar ^(HS)from which those ^(HT)who serve the ^[as]tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For ^(HU)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, ^(HV)that He might sanctify the people ^(HW)through His own blood, suffered ^(HX)outside the gate. ¹³ So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, ^(HY)bearing His reproach. ¹⁴ For here ^(HZ)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking ^(IA)the city which is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

^15 (IB)Through Him then, let us continually offer up a ^(IC)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(ID)the fruit of lips that ^[at]give thanks to His name. ¹⁶ And do not neglect doing good and ^(IE)sharing, for ^(IF)with such sacrifices God is pleased.

^17 (IG)Obey your leaders and submit to them, for ^(IH)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. ^[au]Let them do this with joy and not ^[av]with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

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

Benediction

²⁰ Now ^(IL)the God of peace, who ^(IM)brought up from the dead the ^(IN)great Shepherd of the sheep ^[aw]through ^(IO)the blood of the ^(IP)eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, ^21 (IQ)equip you in every good thing to do His will, ^(IR)working in us that ^(IS)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(IT)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² But ^(IU)I urge you, ^(IV)brethren, ^[ax]bear with ^[ay]this ^(IW)word of exhortation, for ^(IX)I have written to you briefly. ^23 [az]Take notice that ^(IY)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. ²⁴ Greet ^(IZ)all of your leaders and all the ^[ba](JA)saints. Those from ^(JB)Italy greet you.

^25 (JC)Grace be with you all.