Hebrews 12:18-13:9

English Standard Version

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

¹⁸ For you have not come to ^(A)what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest ¹⁹ and ^(B)the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words ^(C)made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not endure the order that was given, ^(D)“If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” ²¹ Indeed, ^(E)so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” ²² But you have come to ^(F)Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, ^(G)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(H)innumerable angels in festal gathering, ²³ and to ^(I)the assembly^[a] of the firstborn who are ^(J)enrolled in heaven, and to ^(K)God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, ^(L)the mediator of a new covenant, and to ^(M)the sprinkled blood ^(N)that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

²⁵ See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For ^(O)if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. ²⁶ At that time ^(P)his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ^(Q)“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷ This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates ^(R)the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore let us be grateful for receiving ^(S)a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus ^(T)let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our ^(U)God is a consuming fire.

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

13 Let ^(V)brotherly love continue. ^2 (W)Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby ^(X)some have entertained angels unawares. ^3 (Y)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 (Z)Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge ^(AA)the sexually immoral and adulterous. ⁵ Keep your life ^(AB)free from love of money, and ^(AC)be content with what you have, for he has said, ^(AD)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say,

⁷ Remember ^(AG)your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and ^(AH)imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is ^(AI)the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be ^(AJ)led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, ^(AK)not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.