Hebrews 12

1 Furthermore, since we also have so great a cloud of witnesses over us, let us set aside every burden and sin which may surround us, and advance, through patience, to the struggle offered to us.2 Let us gaze upon Jesus, as the Author and the completion of our faith, who, having joy laid out before him, endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and who now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.3 So then, meditate upon him who endured such adversity from sinners against himself, so that you may not become weary, failing in your souls.4 For you have not yet resisted unto blood, while striving against sin.5 And you have forgotten the consolation which speaks to you like sons, saying: “My son, do not be willing to neglect the discipline of the Lord. Neither should you become weary, while being rebuked by him.”6 For whomever the Lord loves, he chastises. And every son whom he accepts, he scourges.7 Persevere in discipline. God presents you to himself as sons. But what son is there, whom his father does not correct?8 But if you are without that discipline in which all have become sharers, then you are of adultery, and you are not sons.9 Then, too, we have certainly had the fathers of our flesh as instructors, and we reverenced them. Should we not obey the Father of spirits all the more, and so live?10 And indeed, for a few days and according to their own wishes, they instructed us. But he does so to our benefit, so that we may receive his sanctification.11 Now every discipline, in the present time, does not seem a gladness, of course, but a grief. But afterwards, it will repay a most peaceful fruit of justice to those who become trained in it.12 Because of this, lift up your lazy hands and your lax knees,13 and straighten the path of your feet, so that no one, being lame, may wander astray, but instead may be healed.14 Pursue peace with everyone. Pursue sanctity, without which no one shall see God.15 Be contemplative, lest anyone lack the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and impede you, and by it, many might be defiled,16 lest any fornicator or worldly person be like Esau, who, for the sake of one meal, sold his birthright.17 For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected. For he found no place for repentance, even though he had sought it with tears.18 But you have not drawn near to a tangible mountain, or a burning fire, or a whirlwind, or a mist, or a storm,19 or the sound of a trumpet, or a voice of words. Those who had experienced these things excused themselves, lest the Word be spoken to them.20 For they could not bear what was said, and so, if even a beast would have touched the mountain, it would have been stoned.21 And what was seen was so terrible that even Moses said: “I am terrified, and so, I tremble.”22 But you have drawn near to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of Angels,23 and to the Church of the first-born, those who have been inscribed in the heavens, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament, and to a sprinkling of blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.25 Be careful not to reject the One who is speaking. For if those who rejected him who was speaking upon the earth were not able to escape, so much more we who might turn away from the One who is speaking to us from heaven.26 Then, his voice moved the earth. But now, he makes a promise, saying: “There is still one more time, and then I will move, not only the earth, but also heaven itself.”27 And so, in saying, “There is still one more time,” he declares the transfer of the moveable things of creation, so that those things which are immoveable may remain.28 Thus, in receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace. So, through grace, let us be of service, by pleasing God with fear and reverence.29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12

The Lord’s Discipline

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,t we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.s3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshedt in your struggle against sin.

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons?
“My son, do not scorntthe Lord’s discipline
or give up when he correctstyou.

6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”s
7 Endure your sufferingt as discipline;t God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?8 But if you do not experience discipline,t something all sonst have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.9 Besides, we have experienced discipline fromt our earthly fatherst and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?ts10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.t But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousnesst for those trained by it.12 Therefore, strengthentyour listless hands and your weak knees,s

13 and make straight paths for your feet,s so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.

Do Not Reject God’s Warning

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness,s for without it no one will see the Lord.15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter rootspringing upts and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.16 And see to it that no one becomest an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.s17 For you know thatt later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessingt with tears.18 For you have not come to something that can be touched,t to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind19 and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering wordst such that those who heard begged to hear no more.t20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”s21 In fact, the scenet was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.”ts22 But you have come to Mount Zion, the cityt of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly23 and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,

24 and to Jesus, the mediatort of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does.s
25 Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven?26 Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.”s27 Now this phrase “once more” indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.28 So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.

29 For our God is indeed a devouring fire.s