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Hebrews 7-10
Contemporary English Version
Hebrews 7-10
Contemporary English Version
The Priestly Family of Melchizedek
7 (A) Melchizedek was both king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He was the one who went out and gave Abraham his blessing, when Abraham returned from killing the kings. 2 Then Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had.
The meaning of the name Melchizedek is “King of Justice.” But since Salem means “peace,” he is also “King of Peace.” 3 We are not told he had a father or mother or ancestors or beginning or end. He is like the Son of God and will be a priest forever.[a]
4 Notice how great Melchizedek was! Our famous ancestor Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had taken from his enemies. 5 (B) The Law teaches that even Abraham's descendants must give a tenth of what they possess. And they are to give this to their own relatives, who are the descendants of Levi and are priests. 6 Although Melchizedek wasn't a descendant of Levi, Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had been given God's promise. 7 Everyone agrees a person who gives a blessing is greater than the one who receives the blessing.
8 Priests are given a tenth of what people earn. But all priests die, except Melchizedek, and the Scriptures teach that he is alive. 9 Levi's descendants are now the ones who receive a tenth from people. We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth, Levi also gave him a tenth. 10 This is because Levi was born later into the family of Abraham, who gave a tenth to Melchizedek.
11 Even though the Law of Moses says the priests must be descendants of Levi, those priests cannot make anyone perfect. So there needs to be a priest like Melchizedek, rather than one from the priestly family of Aaron.[b] 12 And when the rules for selecting a priest are changed, the Law must also be changed.
13 The person we are talking about is our Lord, who came from a tribe that had never had anyone to serve as a priest at the altar. 14 Everyone knows he came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never said priests would come from that tribe.
15 All of this becomes clearer, when someone who is like Melchizedek is appointed to be a priest. 16 That person wasn't appointed because of his ancestors, but because his life can never end. 17 (C) The Scriptures say about him,
“You are a priest forever,
just like Melchizedek.”
18 In this way a weak and useless command was put aside, 19 because the Law cannot make anything perfect. At the same time, we are given a much better hope, and it can bring us close to God.
20-21 (D) God himself made a promise when this priest was appointed. But he did not make a promise like this when the other priests were appointed. The promise he made is,
“I, the Lord, promise that you
will be a priest forever!
And I will never
change my mind!”
22 This means that Jesus guarantees us a better agreement with God. 23 There have been a lot of other priests, and all of them have died. 24 But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever! 25 He is forever able to save[c] the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.
26 Jesus is the high priest we need. He is holy and innocent and faultless, and not at all like us sinners. Jesus is honored above all beings in heaven, 27 (E) and he is better than any other high priest. Jesus doesn't need to offer sacrifices each day for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He offered a sacrifice once for all, when he gave himself. 28 The Law appoints priests who have weaknesses. But God's promise, which came later than the Law, appoints his Son. And he is the perfect high priest forever.
A Better Promise
8 (F) What I mean is we have a high priest who sits at the right side[d] of God's great throne in heaven. 2 He also serves as the priest in the most holy place[e] inside the real tent there in heaven. This tent of worship was set up by the Lord, not by humans.
3 Since all priests must offer gifts and sacrifices, Christ also needed to have something to offer. 4 If he were here on earth, he would not be a priest at all, because here the Law appoints other priests to offer sacrifices. 5 (G) But the tent where they serve is just a copy and a shadow of the real one in heaven. Before Moses made the tent, he was told, “Be sure to make it exactly like the pattern you were shown on the mountain!” 6 Now Christ has been appointed to serve as a priest in a much better way, and he has given us much assurance of a better agreement.
7 If the first agreement with God had been all right, there would not have been any need for another one. 8 (H) But the Lord found fault with it and said,
“I tell you the time will come,
when I will make
a new agreement
with the people of Israel
and the people of Judah.
9 It won't be like the agreement
that I made
with their ancestors,
when I took them by the hand
and led them out of Egypt.
They broke their agreement
with me,
and I stopped caring
about them!
10 “But now I tell the people
of Israel
this is my new agreement:
‘The time will come
when I, the Lord,
will write my laws
on their minds and hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be
my people.
11 Not one of them
will have to teach another
to know me, their Lord.’
“All of them will know me,
no matter who they are.
12 I will treat them with kindness,
even though they are wicked.
I will forget their sins.”
13 When the Lord talks about a new agreement, he means that the first one is out of date. And anything that is old and useless will soon disappear.
The Tent in Heaven
9 The first promise included rules for worship and a tent for worship here on earth. 2 (I) The first part of the tent was called the holy place, and a lampstand, a table, and the sacred loaves of bread were kept there.
3 (J) Behind the curtain was the most holy place. 4 (K) The gold altar for burning incense was in this holy place. The gold-covered sacred chest was also there, and inside it were three things. First, there was a gold jar filled with manna.[f] Then there was Aaron's walking stick that sprouted.[g] Finally, there were the flat stones with the Ten Commandments written on them. 5 (L) On top of the chest were the glorious creatures with wings[h] opened out above the place of mercy.[i]
Now isn't the time to go into detail about these things. 6 (M) But this is how everything was when the priests went each day into the first part of the tent to do their duties. 7 (N) However, only the high priest could go into the second part of the tent, and he went in only once a year. Each time he carried blood to offer for his sins and for any sins that the people had committed without meaning to.
8 All of this is the Holy Spirit's way of saying no one could enter the most holy place while the tent was still the place of worship. 9 This also has a meaning for today. It shows we cannot make our consciences clear by offering gifts and sacrifices. 10 These rules are merely about such things as eating and drinking and ceremonies for washing ourselves. And rules about physical things will last only until the time comes to change them for something better.
11 (O) Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here.[j] He also went into a much better tent that wasn't made by humans and that doesn't belong to this world. 12 Then Christ went once for all into the most holy place and freed us from sin forever. He did this by offering his own blood instead of the blood of goats and bulls.
13 (P) According to the Law of Moses, those people who become unclean are not fit to worship God. Yet they will be considered clean, if they are sprinkled with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a sacrificed calf. 14 But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. This is why his blood is much more powerful and makes our[k] consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death.
15 Christ died to rescue those who had sinned and broken the old agreement. Now he brings his chosen ones a new agreement with its guarantee of God's eternal blessings! 16 In fact, making an agreement of this kind is like writing a will. This is because the one who makes the will must die before it is of any use. 17 In other words, a will doesn't go into effect as long as the one who made it is still alive.
18 Blood was also used[l] to put the first agreement into effect. 19 (Q) Moses told the people all the Law said they must do. Then he used red wool and a hyssop plant to sprinkle the people and the book of the Law with the blood of bulls and goats[m] and with water. 20 He told the people, “With this blood God makes his agreement with you.” 21 (R) Moses also sprinkled blood on the tent and on everything else used in worship. 22 (S) The Law says that almost everything must be sprinkled with blood, and no sins can be forgiven unless blood is offered.
Christ's Great Sacrifice
23 These things are only copies of what is in heaven, and so they had to be made holy by these ceremonies. But the real things in heaven must be made holy by something better. 24 This is why Christ did not go into a tent made by humans and was only a copy of the real one. Instead, he went into heaven and is now there with God to help us.
25 Christ did not have to offer himself many times. He wasn't like a high priest who goes into the most holy place each year to offer the blood of an animal. 26 If he had offered himself every year, he would have suffered many times since the creation of the world. But instead, near the end of time he offered himself once and for all, so he could be a sacrifice that does away with sin.
27 We die only once, and then we are judged. 28 (T) So Christ died only once to take away the sins of many people. But when he comes again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for him.
10 The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.
5 (U) When Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“Sacrifices and offerings
are not what you want,
but you have given me
my body.
6 No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
and offerings for sin.”
7 Then Christ said,
“And so, my God,
I have come to do
what you want,
as the Scriptures say.”
8 The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9 Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. This is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
11 (V) The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 (W) But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side,[n] 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.
15 The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,
16 (X) “When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
with them.
I will write my laws
on their minds and hearts.
17 (Y) Then I will forget
about their sins
and no longer remember
their evil deeds.”
18 When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.
Encouragement and Warning
19 My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place 20 by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.
21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God's house. 22 (Z) So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. 24 We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 25 Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.
26 No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. 27 (AA) They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. 28 (AB) If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. 29 (AC) But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy. 30 (AD) We know that God has said he will punish and take revenge. We also know that the Scriptures say the Lord will judge his people. 31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32 Don't forget all the hard times you went through when you first received the light. 33 Sometimes you were abused and mistreated in public, and at other times you shared in the sufferings of others. 34 You were kind to people in jail. And you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever.
35 Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. 36 Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what he has promised. 37 (AE) As the Scriptures say,
“God is coming soon!
It won't be very long.
38 The people God accepts
will live because
of their faith.[o]
But he isn't pleased
with anyone
who turns back.”
39 We are not like those people who turn back and get destroyed. We will keep on having faith until we are saved.
Footnotes
- 7.3 will be a priest forever: See the note at 5.6.
- 7.11 descendants of Levi … from the priestly family of Aaron: Levi was the ancestor of the tribe from which priests and their helpers (called “Levites”) were chosen. Aaron was the first high priest.
- 7.25 forever able to save: Or “able to save forever.”
- 8.1 right side: See the note at 1.3.
- 8.2 most holy place: See the note at 6.19.
- 9.4 manna: When the people of Israel were wandering through the desert, the Lord provided them with food that could be made into thin wafers. This food was called manna, which in Hebrew means “What is it?”
- 9.4 Aaron's walking stick that sprouted: According to Numbers 17.1-11, Aaron's walking stick sprouted and produced almonds to show that the Lord was pleased with him and Moses.
- 9.5 glorious creatures with wings: Two of these creatures (called “cherubim” in Hebrew and Greek) with outspread wings were on top of the sacred chest and were symbols of God's throne.
- 9.5 place of mercy: The lid of the sacred chest, which was thought to be God's throne on earth.
- 9.11 that are now here: Some manuscripts have “that were coming.”
- 9.14 our: Some manuscripts have “your,” and others have “their.”
- 9.18 Blood was also used: Or “There also had to be a death.”
- 9.19 blood of bulls and goats: Some manuscripts do not have “and goats.”
- 10.12 right side: See the note at 1.3.
- 10.38 The people God accepts will live because of their faith: Or “The people God accepts because of their faith will live.”
Hebrews 7-10
New International Version
Hebrews 7-10
New International Version
Melchizedek the Priest
7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem(A) and priest of God Most High.(B) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,(C) 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy,(D) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,(E) he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch(F) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!(G) 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people(H)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed(I) him who had the promises.(J) 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.(K) 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people(L) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,(M) one in the order of Melchizedek,(N) not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,(O) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.(P) 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,(Q) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless(S) 19 (for the law made nothing perfect),(T) and a better hope(U) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.(V)
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.(Y)
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.(Z) 25 Therefore he is able to save(AA) completely[c] those who come to God(AB) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.(AC)
26 Such a high priest(AD) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,(AE) exalted above the heavens.(AF) 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices(AG) day after day, first for his own sins,(AH) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all(AI) when he offered himself.(AJ) 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;(AK) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,(AL) who has been made perfect(AM) forever.
The High Priest of a New Covenant
8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,(AN) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,(AO) 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle(AP) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
3 Every high priest(AQ) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,(AR) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.(AS) 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.(AT) 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy(AU) and shadow(AV) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned(AW) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[d](AX) 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant(AY) of which he is mediator(AZ) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.(BA) 8 But God found fault with the people and said[e]:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant(BB)
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors(BC)
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant(BD) I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.(BE)
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.(BF)
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,(BG)
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.(BH)”[f](BI)
13 By calling this covenant “new,”(BJ) he has made the first one obsolete;(BK) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.(BL) 2 A tabernacle(BM) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand(BN) and the table(BO) with its consecrated bread;(BP) this was called the Holy Place.(BQ) 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,(BR) 4 which had the golden altar of incense(BS) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.(BT) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,(BU) Aaron’s staff that had budded,(BV) and the stone tablets of the covenant.(BW) 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,(BX) overshadowing the atonement cover.(BY) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly(BZ) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered(CA) the inner room,(CB) and that only once a year,(CC) and never without blood,(CD) which he offered for himself(CE) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.(CF) 8 The Holy Spirit was showing(CG) by this that the way(CH) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration(CI) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered(CJ) were not able to clear the conscience(CK) of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food(CL) and drink(CM) and various ceremonial washings(CN)—external regulations(CO) applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest(CP) of the good things that are now already here,[g](CQ) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle(CR) that is not made with human hands,(CS) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;(CT) but he entered the Most Holy Place(CU) once for all(CV) by his own blood,(CW) thus obtaining[h] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls(CX) and the ashes of a heifer(CY) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit(CZ) offered himself(DA) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences(DB) from acts that lead to death,[i](DC) so that we may serve the living God!(DD)
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator(DE) of a new covenant,(DF) that those who are called(DG) may receive the promised(DH) eternal inheritance(DI)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.(DJ)
16 In the case of a will,[j] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.(DK) 19 When Moses had proclaimed(DL) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,(DM) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.(DN) 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[k](DO) 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,(DP) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(DQ)
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies(DR) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;(DS) he entered heaven itself,(DT) now to appear for us in God’s presence.(DU) 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place(DV) every year with blood that is not his own.(DW) 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.(DX) But he has appeared(DY) once for all(DZ) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.(EA) 27 Just as people are destined to die once,(EB) and after that to face judgment,(EC) 28 so Christ was sacrificed once(ED) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,(EE) not to bear sin,(EF) but to bring salvation(EG) to those who are waiting for him.(EH)
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The law is only a shadow(EI) of the good things(EJ) that are coming—not the realities themselves.(EK) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect(EL) those who draw near to worship.(EM) 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.(EN) 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.(EO) 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats(EP) to take away sins.(EQ)
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world,(ER) he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;(ES)
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll(ET)—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[l](EU)
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”(EV)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”(EW) He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy(EX) through the sacrifice of the body(EY) of Jesus Christ once for all.(EZ)
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,(FA) which can never take away sins.(FB) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(FC) he sat down at the right hand of God,(FD) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(FE) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(FF) forever those who are being made holy.(FG)
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies(FH) to us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[m](FI)
17 Then he adds:
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(FK) to enter the Most Holy Place(FL) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(FM) opened for us through the curtain,(FN) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(FO) over the house of God,(FP) 22 let us draw near to God(FQ) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(FR) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(FS) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(FT) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(FU) we profess,(FV) for he who promised is faithful.(FW) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(FX) 25 not giving up meeting together,(FY) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(FZ)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(GA)
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(GB) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(GC) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(GD) that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(GE) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(GF) underfoot,(GG) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(GH) that sanctified them,(GI) and who has insulted the Spirit(GJ) of grace?(GK) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[o](GL) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[p](GM) 31 It is a dreadful thing(GN) to fall into the hands(GO) of the living God.(GP)
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,(GQ) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.(GR) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(GS) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(GT) 34 You suffered along with those in prison(GU) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.(GV) 35 So do not throw away your confidence;(GW) it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere(GX) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(GY) 37 For,
38 And,
“But my righteous[r] one will live by faith.(HB)
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”[s](HC)
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
- Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40
- Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
- Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34
- Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
- Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
- Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
- Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
- Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8
- Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
- Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
- Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34
- Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
- Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
- Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
- Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
- Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)
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