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).

HEBREOS 13

Exhortación a vivir como cristianos

1 Que no decaiga el amor fraterno.t 2 No echen en olvido la hospitalidad pues, gracias a ella, personas hubo que, sin saberlo, alojaron ángelest en su casa.t

3 Tengan siempre presentes a los encarcelados como si ustedes mismos se encontraran presos junto con ellos; y también a los que sufren malos tratos, como si ustedes estuvieran en su lugart.
4 Que todos respeten el matrimonio y mantengan limpia su vida conyugal, pues Dios juzgará con severidad a los adúlteros y lujuriosos.t 5 Que la fiebre del dinero no se apodere de ustedes; conténtense con lo que tienen, ya que es Dios mismo quien ha dicho: Nunca te abandonaré; jamás te dejaré solo.t

6 Por eso podemos exclamar llenos de confianza:
El Señor es quien me ayuda, nada temo,
¿qué podrán hacerme los humanos? t
7 Recuerden a los dirigentes que les anunciaron el mensaje de Dios. Tomen nota de cómo culminaron su vida y sigan el ejemplo de su fe. 8 Jesucristo es siempre el mismo, ayer, hoy y por toda la eternidad.

9 No se dejen arrastrar por cualquier doctrina que les venga de afuera. Lo que de veras importa es que la gracia los fortalezca; en lo que se refiere a las reglas sobre alimentos, de ningún provecho han servido a quienes las han observado.t

El sacrificio agradable a Dios

16 Y no se olviden de hacer el bien y de ayudarse unos a otros, pues esos son los sacrificios que agradan a Dios.

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17 Obedezcan a sus dirigentes y sigan sus instrucciones ya que se desvelan por ustedes como quienes tienen que rendir cuentas a Dios; de esta manera cumplirán con alegría y sin quejas su tarea, pues ¿de qué les serviría a ustedes que ellos lo hicieran a disgusto?t
18 Nos encomendamost a las oraciones de ustedes, pues aunque confiamos estar limpios de culpa, deseamos comportarnos rectamente en todo.t

19 Les ruego, pues, insistentemente que lo hagan así para que pueda volver cuanto antes con ustedes.

Conclusión (13,20-25)

Bendición y doxología

21 los ponga a punto para que cumplan su voluntad en toda clase de buenas obras. Que él lleve a cabo en nosotros*, por medio de Jesucristo, aquello que le agrada. A élt sea la gloria por siempre jamás. Amén.

Nota de acompañamiento y saludos

22 Les ruego, hermanos, que acepten de buen grado esta exhortación que les envío acompañada de unas breves líneas.
23 Sepan que nuestro hermano Timoteo ha sido puesto en libertad. Si viene pronto, irá conmigo a visitarlos. 24 Saludos a todos los dirigentes y a todos los creyentes en general. Por su parte, los saludan los hermanos de Italia. 25 Que la gracia esté con todos ustedest.