The Believer’s Rest

4 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have ^(A)come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but ^(B)the word ^[a]they heard did not profit them, because ^[b]it was not united by faith in those who heard. ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

although His works were finished ^(D)from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has said ^(E)somewhere concerning the seventh day: “^(F)And God ^(G)rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this passage, “^(H)They shall not enter My rest.” ⁶ Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of ^(I)disobedience, ⁷ He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying ^[c]through David after so long a time just ^(J)as has been said before,

⁸ For ^(L)if ^[d]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. ⁹ So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also ^(M)rested from his works, as ^(N)God did from His. ¹¹ Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same ^(O)example of ^(P)disobedience. ¹² For ^(Q)the word of God is ^(R)living and ^(S)active and sharper than any two-edged ^(T)sword, and piercing as far as the division of ^(U)soul and ^(V)spirit, of both joints and marrow, and ^(W)able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And ^(X)there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ^(Y)open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great ^(Z)high priest who has ^(AA)passed through the heavens, Jesus ^(AB)the Son of God, let us hold fast our ^(AC)confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have ^(AD)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been ^(AE)tempted in all things as we are, yet ^(AF)without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let us ^(AG)draw near with ^(AH)confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

¹⁰ For ^(A)God is not unjust so as to forget ^(B)your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ^(C)ministered and in still ministering to the ^[a]saints. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence ^[b]so as to realize the ^(D)full assurance of ^(E)hope until the end,

^14 (A)Pursue peace with all men, and the ^(B)sanctification without which no one will ^(C)see the Lord.

⁸ “Blessed are ^(A)the pure in heart, for ^(B)they shall see God.

²⁸ “^(A)Come to Me, all ^[a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and ^(B)learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and ^(C)you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For ^(D)My yoke is ^[b]easy and My burden is light.”

The Birth of Moses

2 Now a man from ^(A)the house of Levi went and ^[a]married a daughter of Levi. ² The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw ^[b]that he was ^[c](B)beautiful, she hid him for three months. ³ But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a ^[d](C)wicker ^[e]basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the ^(D)reeds by the bank of the Nile. ^4 (E)His sister stood at a distance to ^[f]find out what would ^[g]happen to him.

⁵ The daughter of Pharaoh came down ^(F)to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the ^[h]basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. ⁶ When she opened it, she ^[i]saw the child, and behold, the ^[j]boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” ⁷ Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call ^[k]a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?” ⁸ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. ⁹ Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. ¹⁰ The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and ^(G)he became her son. And she named him ^[l]Moses, and said, “Because I ^[m]drew him out of the water.”

^20 (A)Amram ^[a]married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the ^[b]length of Amram’s life was one hundred and thirty-seven years.

Elkanah and His Wives

1 Now there was a certain man from ^(A)Ramathaim-zophim from the ^(B)hill country of Ephraim, and his name was ^(C)Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ² He had ^(D)two wives: the name of one was ^(E)Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

³ Now this man would go up from his city ^(F)yearly ^(G)to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in ^(H)Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there. ⁴ When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he ^(I)would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; ⁵ but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, ^(J)but the Lord had closed her womb. ⁶ Her rival, however, ^(K)would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. ⁷ It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat. ⁸ Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? ^(L)Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

⁹ Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of ^(M)the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ She, ^[a]greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. ¹¹ She ^(N)made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed ^(O)look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a ^[b]son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and ^(P)a razor shall never come on his head.”

¹² Now it came about, as she ^[c]continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. ¹³ As for Hannah, ^(Q)she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴ Then Eli said to her, “^(R)How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” ¹⁵ But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman ^[d]oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I ^(S)have poured out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not ^[e]consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and ^[f]provocation.” ¹⁷ Then Eli answered and said, “^(T)Go in peace; and may the God of Israel ^(U)grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” ¹⁸ She said, “^(V)Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and ^(W)her face was no longer sad.

Samuel Is Born to Hannah

¹⁹ Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in ^(X)Ramah. And Elkanah ^[g]had relations with Hannah his wife, and ^(Y)the Lord remembered her. ²⁰ It came about ^[h]in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “^(Z)Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

²¹ Then the man Elkanah ^(AA)went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. ²² But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will ^(AB)bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and ^(AC)stay there forever.” ^23 (AD)Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best ^[i]to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only ^(AE)may the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. ²⁴ Now when she had weaned him, ^(AF)she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to ^(AG)the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. ²⁵ Then ^(AH)they slaughtered the bull, and ^(AI)brought the boy to Eli. ²⁶ She said, “Oh, my lord! ^(AJ)As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. ^27 (AK)For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. ^28 (AL)So I have also ^[j]dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is ^[k]dedicated to the Lord.” And ^(AM)he worshiped the Lord there.

A Lament over Zion