Hebrews 13
Chapter 13
Concluding Words
1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.t2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”t
6 So we can say with confidence,
“The LORD is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”t
7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
10 We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernaclet have no right to eat.11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp.12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore.
14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.
19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.
20 Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—21 may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,t
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
22 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,t to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.
23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there.t The believers from Italy send you their greetings.
25 May God’s grace be with you all.
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
