Hebrews 12:4-13

New International Reader's Version

God Trains His Children

⁴ You struggle against sin. But you have not yet fought to the point of spilling your blood. ⁵ Have you completely forgotten this word of hope? It speaks to you as a father to his children. It says,

⁷ Put up with hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as his children. What children are not trained by their parents? ⁸ God trains all his children. But what if he doesn’t train you? Then you are not really his children. You are not God’s true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Besides, we have all had human fathers who trained us. We respected them for it. How much more should we be trained by the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ Our parents trained us for a little while. They did what they thought was best. But God trains us for our good. He does this so we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does this for those who have been trained by it.

¹² So put your hands to work. Strengthen your legs for the journey. ¹³ “Make level paths for your feet to walk on.” (Proverbs 4:26) Then those who have trouble walking won’t be disabled. Instead, they will be healed.