Hebrews 13
1 LET LOVE for your fellow believers continue and be a fixed practice with you [never let it fail].2 Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are ill-treated, since you also are liable to bodily sufferings.4 Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous.5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? 7 Remember your leaders and superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives) and imitate their faith (their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).8 Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).9 Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them.10 We have an altar from which those who serve and worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat.11 For when the blood of animals is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin, the victims’ bodies are burned outside the limits of the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city’s] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood and set them apart as holy [for God].13 Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent us] to Him outside the camp [at Calvary], bearing the contempt and abuse and shame with Him. 14 For here we have no permanent city, but we are looking for the one which is to come.15 Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. 16 Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship], for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.17 Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either].18 Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things.19 And I beg of you [to pray for us] the more earnestly, in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.20 Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), 21 Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).22 I call on you, brethren, to listen patiently and bear with this message of exhortation and admonition and encouragement, for I have written to you briefly.23 Notice that our brother Timothy has been released [from prison]. If he comes here soon, I will see you along with him.24 Give our greetings to all of your spiritual leaders and to all of the saints (God’s consecrated believers). The Italian Christians send you their greetings [also].25 Grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) be with you all. Amen (so be it).
Hebrews 13
Final Exhortations
1 Brotherly love must continue.2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.s3 Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them,t and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.t4 Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.5 Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”s6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, andsI will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”s7 Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!9 Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings.t For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals,t which have never benefited those who participated in them.10 We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest bringst into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.12 Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp.13 We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.t14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.
16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have,t for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work.t Let them do thist with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.
19 I especially ask you to prayt that I may be restored to you very soon.
Benediction and Conclusion
20 Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in uss what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever.s Amen.
22 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters,t bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly.23 You should know thatt our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.t24 Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.
25 Grace be with you all.s