Book of Common Prayer

¹⁸ You have not come to the mountain that can be touched and is burning with a big fire. You have not come to the place of darkness and night and storm.

¹⁹ You have not come to a place where a loud trumpet or horn is blown, and a loud voice is talking. When the people heard the voice, they begged that God would not say anything more to them.

²⁰ They were afraid of what he said. He said, `If even an animal touches this mountain, it must be killed with stones.'

²¹ Moses was afraid when he saw all this. He said, `I fear very much and I tremble.'

²² But you have come to a hill called Zion. You have come to the city of the living God. It is the Jerusalem in heaven. You have come to many thousands of angels in a happy gathering.

²³ You have come to the church people. They are God's first sons, and their names are written in heaven. You have come to God who is the judge of all people. You have come to the spirits of good people who have been made right.

²⁴ You have come to Jesus who is the middle man of a new agreement. You have come to the place where the spilling of his blood has more power than Abel's.

²⁵ Take care that you listen to God who is talking now. The people were punished when they would not listen to the One who talked on earth. And we will be punished much worse if we will not listen to the One who talks from heaven.

²⁶ That time his voice shook the earth. But now he has said, `Only once more I will shake the earth and the sky also.'

²⁷ The words, `Only once more' mean that the things that are shaken will be taken away. They are things that were made. The things which are not shaken will stay.

²⁸ We have a place in heaven that cannot be shaken. So let us be glad and worship God and please him. Let us respect and fear him.

²⁹ Our God is a fire that can burn up.

²⁴ I tell you the truth. If a seed of grain is not put in the ground to die, it will be only a seed. But if it dies, it will bear many seeds.

²⁵ Anyone who tries to keep his life will lose it. Anyone who gives up his life in this world will live for ever in the next world.

²⁶ If anyone wants to do my work, he must go where I go. Then he and I will be together. My Father will honour everyone who works for me.

²⁷ `Now my heart is very sad. Shall I say, "Father, save me from this time of trouble"? No, I have come to this time just so that I might go through it.

²⁸ Father, do what will make your name great.' Then a voice from the sky said, `I have already done that and I will do it again.'

²⁹ Some people were standing near. When they heard the voice, they said, `It is thundering.' Other people said, `An angel talked to him.'

³⁰ Jesus answered them, `This voice did not come for my sake, but it came for your sake.

³¹ It is time now for the world to be judged. The ruler of this world will be put out.

³² And as for me, if they lift me up from the earth, I will draw all people to me.'