Hebrews 12

1 And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:2 Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.3 For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.4 For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:5 And you have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.6 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.7 Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct?8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.9 Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?10 And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification.11 Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield, to them that are exercised by it, the most peaceable fruit of justice.12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,13 And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting, may go out of the way; but rather be healed.14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness: without which no man shall see God.15 Looking diligently, lest any man be wanting to the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up do hinder, and by it many be defiled.16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau; who for one mess, sold his first birthright.17 For know ye that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, although with tears he had sought it.18 For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched, and a burning fire, and a whirlwind, and darkness, and storm,19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them:20 For they did not endure that which was said: And if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned.21 And so terrible was that which was seen, Moses said: I am frighted, and tremble.22 But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels,23 And to the church of the firstborn, who are written 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 the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.25 See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke upon the earth, much more shall not we, that turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven.26 Whose voice then moved the earth; but now he promiseth, saying: Yet once more, and I will move not only the earth, but heaven also.27 And in that he saith, Yet once more, he signifieth the translation of the moveable things as made, that those things may remain which are immoveable.28 Therefore receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace; whereby let us serve, 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