Hebrews 12
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
The Call to Endurance
12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses(A) surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance(B) the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus,[a] the pioneer and perfecter[b] of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,[c] he endured the cross, despising the shame,(C) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Fatherly Discipline
3 For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.(D) 4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:
My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly
or lose heart when you are reproved by him,
6 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves
and punishes every son he receives.[d](E)
7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline – which all receive[e] – then you are illegitimate children and not sons.(F) 9 Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?(G) 10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness.(H) 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit(I) of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.(J)
12 Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees,(K) 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated[f] but healed instead.(L)
Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace
14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness(M) – without it no one will see the Lord.(N) 15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.(O) 16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoral[g] or irreverent(P) person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.(Q) 17 For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.(R)
18 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20 for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.[h](S) 21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.[i](T) 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,(U) 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written[j] in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,(V) 24 and to Jesus, the mediator(W) of a new covenant,(X) and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.(Y)
25 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.(Z) 26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.[k](AA) 27 This expression, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of what can be shaken(AB) – that is, created things – so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,(AC) 29 for our God is a consuming fire.(AD)
Footnotes
- 12:2 Or us, looking to Jesus
- 12:2 Or the founder and completer, or the source and perfecter
- 12:2 Or who instead of the joy lying before him
- 12:6 Pr 3:11–12
- 12:8 Lit discipline, of which all have become participants
- 12:13 Or so that the lame will not be turned aside
- 12:16 Or sexually immoral
- 12:20 Ex 19:12
- 12:21 Dt 9:19
- 12:23 Or registered
- 12:26 Hg 2:6
Hebrews 12
American Standard Version
12 Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every [a]weight, and the sin which [b]doth so easily beset us, and let us run with [c]patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus the [d]author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against [e]himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin: 5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons,
[f]My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord,
Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 [g]It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of [h]spirits, and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. 11 All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness. 12 Wherefore [i]lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees; 13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not [j]turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 looking carefully [k]lest there be any man that [l]falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled; 16 [m]lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright. 17 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was [n]rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.
18 For ye are not come unto [o]a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them; 20 for they could not endure that which was enjoined, [p]If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; 21 and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, [q]I exceedingly fear and quake: 22 but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, [r]and to [s]innumerable hosts of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better [t]than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him [u]that warneth from heaven: 26 whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, [v]Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have [w]grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with [x]reverence and awe: 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 12:1 Or, encumbrance
- Hebrews 12:1 Or, doth closely cling to us. Or, is admired of many
- Hebrews 12:1 Or, stedfastness
- Hebrews 12:2 Or, captain
- Hebrews 12:3 Many ancient authorities read themselves. Compare Num. 16:38.
- Hebrews 12:5 Prov. 3:11f.
- Hebrews 12:7 Or, Endure unto chastening
- Hebrews 12:9 Or, our spirits
- Hebrews 12:12 Greek make straight.
- Hebrews 12:13 Or, put out of joint
- Hebrews 12:15 Or, whether
- Hebrews 12:15 Or, falleth back from
- Hebrews 12:16 Or, whether
- Hebrews 12:17 Or, rejected (for he found no place of repentance), etc. Or, rejected; for . . . of repentance etc. Compare 6:6; 2 Esdr. 9:11; Wisd. 12:10.
- Hebrews 12:18 Or, a palpable and kindled fire
- Hebrews 12:20 Ex. 19:12f.
- Hebrews 12:21 Dt. 9:19.
- Hebrews 12:22 Or, and to innumerable hosts, the general assembly of angels, and the church etc.
- Hebrews 12:22 Greek myriads of angels.
- Hebrews 12:24 Or, than Abel
- Hebrews 12:25 Or, that is from heaven
- Hebrews 12:26 Hag. 2:6.
- Hebrews 12:28 Or, thankfulness. Compare 1 Cor. 10:30.
- Hebrews 12:28 Or, godly fear. Compare 5:7.
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