Bible in 90 Days

God’s Full and Final Revelation in the Son

1 Although^[a] God spoke long ago in many parts^[b] and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets, ² in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world,^{[c] 3} who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all things by the word of power.^[d] When he^[e] had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become by so much better than the angels, by as much as he has inherited a more excellent name than theirs.

The Son Superior to the Angels

⁵ For to which of the angels did he ever say,

and again,

⁶ And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

⁷ And concerning the angels he says,

⁸ but concerning the Son,

¹⁰ And,

¹³ But to which of the angels has he ever said,

¹⁴ Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Warning Not to Neglect Salvation

2 Because of this, it is all the more necessary that we pay attention to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ² For if the word spoken through angels was binding and every transgression and act of disobedience received a just penalty, ³ how will we escape if we^[p] neglect so great a salvation which had its beginning when it^[q] was spoken through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard, ⁴ while^[r] God was testifying at the same time by signs and wonders and various miracles and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to his will.

The Son’s Humiliation and Suffering

⁵ For he did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But someone testified somewhere, saying,

For in subjecting all things,^[u] he left nothing that was not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him, ⁹ but we see Jesus, for a short time made lower than the angels, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that apart from God^[v] he might taste death on behalf of everyone. ¹⁰ For it was fitting for him for whom are all things and through whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹ For both the one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified are all from one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, ¹² saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share in blood and flesh, he also in like manner shared in these same things, in order that through death he could destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and could set free these who through fear of death were subject to slavery throughout all their lives. ¹⁶ For surely he is not concerned with angels, but he is concerned with the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he was obligated to be made like his brothers in all respects, in order that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things relating to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For in that which he himself suffered when he^[z] was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

The Superiority of Jesus to Moses

3 Therefore, holy brothers, sharers in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, ² who was faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses also was in his household.^{[aa] 3} For this one is considered worthy of greater glory than Moses, inasmuch as the one who builds it has greater honor than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but the one who built all things is God. ⁵ And Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony to the things that would be spoken, ⁶ but Christ was faithful^[ab] as a son over his house, whose house we are, if^[ac] we hold fast to our confidence and the hope we can be proud of.

A Serious Warning Against Unbelief

⁷ Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,

¹² Watch out, brothers, lest there be in some of you an evil, unbelieving heart, with the result that you fall away^[af] from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another day by day^[ag], as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you become hardened^[ah] by the deception of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partners of Christ, if indeed we hold fast the beginning of our commitment steadfast until the end, ¹⁵ while it is said^[ai],

¹⁶ For who, when they^[ak] heard it, were disobedient? Surely it was not all who went out from Egypt through Moses? ¹⁷ And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did he swear they would not enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient? ¹⁹ And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

The Rest that Remains for the People of God

4 Therefore let us fear, while there^[al] remains a promise of entering into his rest, that none of you appear to fall short of it. ² For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us^[am], just as those also did, but the message they heard^[an] did not benefit them, because they^[ao] were not united with those who heard it in faith. ³ For we who have believed enter into rest,^[ap] just as he has said,

And yet these works have been accomplished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,”^{[as] 5} and in this passage again, ‘They will never enter^[at] into my rest.’”^{[au] 6} Since therefore it remains for some to enter into it, and the ones to whom the good news was proclaimed previously did not enter because of disobedience, ⁷ again he ordains a certain day, today, speaking by David after so long a time, just as had been said before,

⁸ For if Joshua had caused them to rest, he would not have spoken about another day after these things. ⁹ Consequently a sabbath rest remains for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered into his rest has also himself rested from his works, just as God did from his own works.

¹¹ Therefore, let us make every effort to enter into that rest, in order that no one may fall in the same pattern of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, both joints and marrow, and able to judge the reflections and thoughts of the heart. ¹³ And no creature is hidden in the sight of him, but all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of him to whom we must give our account^[aw].

Jesus Our Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, because we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who has been tempted in all things in the same way, without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

A High Priest Like Melchizedek

5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in the things relating to God, in order that he can offer both gifts and sacrifices on behalf of sins, ² being able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and led astray, since he himself also is surrounded by weakness, ³ and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins for himself also, as well as for the people^[ax]. ⁴ And someone does not take for himself the honor, but is called by God, just as Aaron also was. ⁵ Thus also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but the one who said to him,

⁶ just as also in another place he says,

⁷ who in the days of his flesh offered up both prayers and supplications, with loud crying and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard as a result of his reverence. ⁸ Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered, ⁹ and being perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him, ¹⁰ being designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Advanced Teaching Hindered by Immaturity

¹¹ Concerning this^[bb] we have much to say and it is difficult to explain^[bc], since you have become sluggish in hearing. ¹² For indeed, although you^[bd] ought to be teachers by this time^[be], you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and you have need of^[bf] milk, not^[bg] solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes of milk is unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.

A Serious Warning Against Falling Away

6 Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, ² teaching about baptisms and laying on of hands, and resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do, if God permits. ⁴ For it is impossible concerning those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, ⁶ and having fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, because they^[bh] have crucified again for themselves the Son of God and held him up to contempt. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those people for whose sake^[bi] it is also cultivated, shares a blessing from God. ⁸ But if it^[bj] produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to a curse, whose end is for burning.

⁹ But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and belonging to salvation. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust, so as to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name by^[bk] having served the saints, and continuing to serve them. ¹¹ And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, ¹² in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.

The Reliability of God’s Promise

¹³ For when^[bl] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying,

¹⁵ And so, by^[bo] persevering, he obtained the promise. ¹⁶ For people swear by what is greater than themselves, and the oath for confirmation is the end of all dispute for them. ¹⁷ In the same way God, because he^[bp] wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed it with an oath, ¹⁸ in order that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us, ¹⁹ which we have like an anchor of the soul, both firm and steadfast, and entering into the inside of the curtain, ²⁰ where Jesus, the forerunner for us, entered, because he^[bq] became a high priest forever^[br] according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Greatness of Melchizedek

7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham as he^[bs] was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,^{[bt] 2} to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything^[bu]—in the first place, his name is translated “king of righteousness,” and then also “king of Salem,” that is, “king of peace”; ³ without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God—he remains a priest for all time.

⁴ But see how great this man was, to whom Abraham^[bv] the patriarch gave a tenth from the spoils! ⁵ And indeed those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a commandment to collect a tenth from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers, although they are descended from Abraham^[bw]. ⁶ But the one who did not trace his descent from them collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. ⁷ Now without any dispute the inferior is blessed by the more prominent. ⁸ And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case it is testified that he lives. ⁹ And, so to speak^[bx], even Levi, the one who receives tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham. ¹⁰ For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

The Superiority of Jesus to Melchizedek

¹¹ Thus if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood, for on the basis of it the people received the law, what further need is there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not said to be according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when^[by] the priesthood changes, of necessity there is a change of the law also. ¹³ For the one about whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord is a descendant of Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests. ¹⁵ And it is still more clear, if another priest according to the likeness of Melchizedek arises, ¹⁶ who has become a priest not according to a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is testified,

¹⁸ For on the one hand a preceding commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for the law made nothing perfect), but on the other hand there is the introduction of a better hope through which we draw near to God. ²⁰ And by as much as this was not without an oath (for these on the one hand have become priests^[cb] without an oath, ²¹ but he with an oath by the one who said to him,

²² by so much more^[ce] Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

²³ And indeed many have become^[cf] priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he, because he continues forever^[cg], holds the priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore also he is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, because he^[ch] always lives in order to intercede on their behalf.

²⁶ For a high priest such as this indeed is fitting for us, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and having become exalted above the heavens, ²⁷ who does not need every day^[ci] like the former high priests to offer up sacrifices for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, because he did this once for all when he^[cj] offered up himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the statement of the oath, after the law, appoints a Son, who is made perfect forever^[ck].

The Mediator of a New and Better Covenant

8 Now this is the main point in what has been said: we have a high priest such as this, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ² a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord set up, not man. ³ For every high priest is appointed in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices; therefore it was^[cl] necessary for this one also to have something that he offers. ⁴ Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, because there^[cm] are those who offer the gifts according to the law, ⁵ who serve a sketch and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned when he^[cn] was about to complete the tabernacle, for he says, “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.”^{[co] 6} But now he has attained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted upon better promises. ⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, occasion would not have been sought for a second. ⁸ For in finding fault with them he says,

¹³ In calling it new, he has declared the former to be old. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is near to disappearing.

The Earthly Ministry of the Old Covenant

9 Now^[cr] the first covenant had regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary. ² For a tent was prepared, the first one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the presentation of the loaves, which is called the holy place. ³ And after the second curtain was a tent called the holy of holies, ⁴ containing the golden incense altar and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which were a golden jar containing the manna and the rod of Aaron that budded and the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, about which it is not now possible to speak in detail.

⁶ Now these things having been prepared in this way, the priests enter into the first tent continually^[cs] as they^[ct] accomplish their service, ⁷ but only the high priest enters into the second tent once a year, not without blood, which he offers on behalf of himself and the sins of the people committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit was making this clear, that the way into the holy place was not yet revealed, while^[cu] the first tent was still in existence, ⁹ which was a symbol for the present time, in which both the gifts and sacrifices which were offered were not able to perfect the worshiper with respect to the conscience, ¹⁰ concerning instead only food and drink and different washings, regulations of outward things imposed until the time of setting things right.

The Heavenly Ministry of the New Covenant

¹¹ But Christ has arrived as a high priest of the good things to come. Through the greater and more perfect tent not made by hands, that is, not of this creation, ¹² and not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered once for all into the most holy place, obtaining eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled sanctify them for the ritual purity of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?

¹⁵ And because of this, he is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because^[cv] a death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions committed during the first covenant, those who are the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where there is a will, it is a necessity for the death of the one who made the will to be established. ¹⁷ For a will is in force concerning those who are dead, since it is never in force when the one who made the will is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was ratified without blood. ¹⁹ For when^[cw] every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves^[cx] with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying,

²¹ And likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the utensils of service with the blood. ²² Indeed, nearly everything is purified with blood according to the law, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf, ²⁵ and not in order that he can offer himself many times, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary year by year^[cz] with blood not his own, ²⁶ since it would have been necessary for him to suffer many times from the foundation of the world, but now he has appeared once at the end of the ages for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as^[da] it is destined for people to die once, and after this, judgment, ²⁸ thus also Christ, having been offered once in order to bear the sins of many, will appear for the second time without reference to sin to those who eagerly await him for salvation.

Christ’s One Sacrifice for Sin

10 For the law, possessing a shadow of the good things that are about to come, not the form of things itself, is never able year by year^[db] by means of the same sacrifices which they offer without interruption to make perfect those who draw near. ² For otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the ones who worship, having been purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in them there is a reminder of sins year by year^[dc]. ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, when he^[dd] came into the world, he said,

⁸ When he says above,

which are offered according to the law, ⁹ then he has said,

He takes away the first in order to establish the second, ¹⁰ by which will we are made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ And every priest stands every day serving and offering the same sacrifices many times, which are never able to take away sins. ¹² But this one, after he^[dg] had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ from now on waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy. ¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

¹⁷ He also says,

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast the Confession of Our Hope

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we^[dj] have confidence for the entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way which he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh, ²¹ and since we have^[dk] a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us approach with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us think about how to stir one another up to love^[dl] and good works, ²⁵ not abandoning our meeting together^[dm], as is the habit of some, but encouraging each other, and by so much more as you see the day drawing near.

A Serious Warning Against Continuing Deliberate Sin

²⁶ For if^[dn] we keep on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that is about to consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment do you think the person will be considered worthy of who treats with disdain the Son of God and who considers ordinary the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy and who insults the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the one who said,

and again,

³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But remember the former days in which, after you^[dq] were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being publicly exposed both to insults and to afflictions, and sometimes becoming sharers with those who were treated in this way. ³⁴ For you both sympathized with the prisoners and put up with the seizure of your belongings with joy because you^[dr] knew that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, in order that after you^[ds] have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. ³⁷ For yet

³⁹ But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but among those who have faith to the preservation of our souls.

Examples of Faith in Action

11 Now faith is the realization of what is hoped for, the proof of things not seen. ² For by this the people of old were approved. ³ By faith we understand the worlds were created by the word of God, in order that what is seen did not come into existence from what is visible.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, because^[du] God approved him for his gifts, and through it^[dv] he still speaks, although he^[dw] is dead. ⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not experience death, and he was not found, because God took him up. For before his removal, he had been approved as having been pleasing^[dx] to God. ⁶ Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him. ⁷ By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, out of reverence constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family, by which he pronounced sentence on the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he^[dy] was called, obeyed to go out to a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived in the land of promise as a stranger, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was expecting the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. ¹¹ By faith also, with Sarah^[dz],^[ea] he received the ability to procreate^[eb] even past the normal age^[ec], because he regarded the one who had promised to be faithful. ¹² And therefore these were fathered from one man, and he being as good as dead, as the stars of heaven in number and like the innumerable sand by the shore of the sea.

¹³ These all died in faith without receiving the promises, but seeing them from a distance and welcoming them, and admitting that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things make clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ And if they remember^[ed] that land from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But now they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac, and the one who received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, ¹⁸ with reference to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants will be named,”^{[ee] 19} having reasoned that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which he received him back also as a symbol. ²⁰ By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things that were going to happen. ²¹ By faith Jacob, as he^[ef] was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. ²² By faith Joseph, as he^[eg] was dying, mentioned about the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his bones.

²³ By faith Moses, when he^[eh] was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw the child was handsome, and they were not afraid of the edict of the king. ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he^[ei] was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing instead to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to experience the transitory enjoyment of sin, ²⁶ considering reproach endured for the sake of Christ^[ej] greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. ²⁷ By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king, for he persevered as if he^[ek] saw the invisible one. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. ²⁹ By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; the Egyptians, when they made the attempt^[el], were drowned. ³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they^[em] had been marched around for seven days. ³¹ By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she^[en] welcomed the spies in peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, accomplished justice, obtained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ extinguished the effectiveness of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in battle, put to flight enemy battle lines. ³⁵ Women received back their dead by resurrection. But others were tortured, not accepting release, in order that they might gain a better resurrection. ³⁶ And others experienced mocking and flogging^[eo], and in addition bonds and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by murder with a sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, impoverished, afflicted, mistreated, ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy, wandering about on deserts and mountains and in caves and in holes in the ground. ³⁹ And although they^[ep] all were approved^[eq] through their faith, they did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ because^[er] God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

The Example of Jesus’ Suffering

12 Therefore, since^[es] we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us^[et], let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself,^[eu] so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your^[ev] blood as you^[ew] struggle against sin. ⁵ And have you completely forgotten the exhortation which instructs you as sons?

⁷ Endure it for discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, in which all legitimate sons^[ey] have become participants, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had our earthly fathers^[ez] who disciplined us, and we respected them. Will we not much rather subject ourselves to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a few days according to what seemed appropriate to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we can have a share in his holiness. ¹¹ Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

A Serious Warning Against Refusing God

¹² Therefore strengthen your slackened hands and your weakened knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be dislocated, but rather be healed. ¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ Take care that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no one growing up like a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶ that no one be a sexually immoral or totally worldly person like Esau, who for one meal traded his own birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that also afterwards, when he^[fa] wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he did not find an occasion for repentance, although he sought it with tears.

¹⁸ For you have not come to something that can be touched, and to a burning fire, and to darkness, and to gloom, and to a whirlwind, ¹⁹ and to the noise of a trumpet, and to the sound of words which those who heard begged that not another word be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”^{[fb] 21} And the spectacle was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”^{[fc] 22} But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels, to the festal gathering ²³ and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^[fd] that speaks better than Abel’s does.

²⁵ Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape when they^[fe] refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape,^[ff] if we^[fg] reject the one who warns from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying,

²⁷ Now the phrase “yet once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, namely, things that have been created, in order that the things that are not shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we^[fi] are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be thankful, through which let us serve God acceptably, with awe and reverence. ²⁹ For indeed our God is a consuming fire.

Concluding Ethical Instructions

13 Brotherly love must continue. ² Do not neglect hospitality, because through this some have received angels as guests without knowing it. ³ Remember the prisoners, as though you were fellow-prisoners; remember^[fj] the mistreated, as though you yourselves also are being mistreated^[fk] in the body. ⁴ Marriage must be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed be undefiled, because God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. ⁵ Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have. For he himself has said, “I will never desert you, and I will never abandon you.”^{[fl] 6} So then, we can say with confidence,

⁷ Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; considering the outcome of their way of life^[fo], imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever^[fp]. ⁹ Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods by which those who participate have not benefited. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle do not have the right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sins are burned up outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, in order that he might sanctify the people by his own blood. ¹³ So we must go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴ For here we do not have a permanent city, but we seek the city that is to come. ¹⁵ Therefore through him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise continually^[fq] to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. ¹⁶ And do not neglect doing good and generosity, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.

¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, and want to conduct ourselves commendably in every way. ¹⁹ And I especially urge you to do this, so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Benediction

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, ²¹ equip you with every good thing to do his will, carrying out in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever^[fr].^[fs] Amen.

Conclusion

²² Now I urge you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for indeed I have written to you briefly^[ft]. ²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you, if he comes quickly enough. ²⁴ Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. ²⁵ Grace be with all of you.

Greeting

1 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion. Greetings!

Trials, Testing, and Faith

² Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials, ³ because you^[fu] know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask for it in faith, without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed about. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Now let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his high position, ¹⁰ but the rich person in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits^[fv] will wither away.

¹² Blessed is the person^[fw] who endures testing, because when he^[fx] is approved he will receive the crown of life that he^[fy] has promised to those who love him. ¹³ No one who is being tempted should say, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted^[fz] by evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he^[ga] is dragged away and enticed by his own desires. ¹⁵ Then desire, after it^[gb] has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it^[gc] is brought to completion, gives birth to death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of change. ¹⁸ By his^[gd] will he gave birth to us through the message of truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Doers of the Message, Not Just Hearers

¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers: every person must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, ²⁰ for human^[ge] anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore, putting aside all moral uncleanness and wicked excess, welcome^[gf] with humility the implanted message which is able to save your souls.

²² But be doers of the message and not hearers only,^[gg] deceiving yourselves, ²³ because if anyone is a hearer of the message and not a doer, this one is like someone^[gh] staring at his own face^[gi] in a mirror, ²⁴ for he looks at himself and goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues to do it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed in what he does^[gj].

²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious, although he^[gk] does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our^[gl] God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Partiality Forbidden

2 My brothers, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality. ² For if someone^[gm] enters into your assembly^[gn] in fine clothing with a gold ring on his finger, and a poor person in filthy clothing also enters, ³ and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, “Be seated here in a good place,” and to the poor person you say, “You stand or be seated there^[go] by my footstool,” ⁴ have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich exploiting you and they themselves dragging you into the courts? ⁷ Do they themselves not blaspheme the good name of the one to whom you belong^[gp]?

⁸ However, if you carry out the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”^[gq] you are doing well. ⁹ But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and thus^[gr] are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one point only has become guilty of all of it. ¹¹ For the one who said “Do not commit adultery”^[gs] also said “Do not murder.”^[gt] Now if you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² Thus speak and thus act as those who are going to be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³ For judgment is merciless to the one who has not practiced mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works

¹⁴ What is the benefit, my brothers, if someone says that he has faith but does not have works? That faith is not able to save him, is it?^{[gu] 15} If a brother or a sister is poorly clothed and lacking food for the day, ¹⁶ and one of you should say to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well^[gv],” but does not give them what is necessary for the body, what is the benefit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”^[gw] Show me your faith apart from your^[gx] works, and I will show you my^[gy] faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he^[gz] offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that faith was working together with his works, and by the works the faith was perfected. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,”^[ha] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And likewise was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she^[hb] welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route? ²⁶ For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Restraining the Tongue

3 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you^[hc] know that we will receive a greater judgment.^{[hd] 2} For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual,^[he] able to hold in check his whole body also. ³ And if we put bits in the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. ⁴ Behold also ships: although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wishes. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member of the body^[hf] and boasts great things. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire! The world of unrighteousness,^[hg] the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire the course of human existence^[hh], being set on fire by hell.

⁷ For every species of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is being tamed and has been tamed by the human species, ⁸ but no human being is able to tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless the^[hi] Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so! ¹¹ A spring does not pour forth from the same opening fresh and bitter water, does it?^{[hj] 12} A fig tree is not able, my brothers, to produce olives, or a grapevine figs. Neither can a saltwater spring produce fresh water.