Hebrews 12
1 THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.4 You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood.5 And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him;6 For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.7 You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?8 Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]. 9 Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded [to them] and respected [them for training us]. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live?10 For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness--in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].12 So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, 13 And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.14 Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it--16 That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you understand that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected (disqualified and set aside), for he could find no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], although he sought for it carefully with [bitter] tears. 18 For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a [material] mountain that can be touched, [a mountain] that is ablaze with fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging storm,19 And to the blast of a trumpet and a voice whose words make the listeners beg that nothing more be said to them. 20 For they could not bear the command that was given: If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death. 21 In fact, so awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified (aghast and trembling with fear). 22 But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering,23 And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect,24 And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance]. 25 So see to it that you do not reject Him or refuse to listen to and heed Him Who is speaking [to you now]. For if they [the Israelites] did not escape when they refused to listen and heed Him Who warned and divinely instructed them [here] on earth [revealing with heavenly warnings His will], how much less shall we escape if we reject and turn our backs on Him Who cautions and admonishes [us] from heaven?26 Then [at Mount Sinai] His voice shook the earth, but now He has given a promise: Yet once more I will shake and make tremble not only the earth but also the [starry] heavens. 27 Now this expression, Yet once more, indicates the final removal and transformation of all [that can be] shaken--that is, of that which has been created--in order that what cannot be shaken may remain and continue. 28 Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe;29 For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire.
Hébreux 12
1 C'est pourquoi, nous aussi, ayant une si grande nuée de témoins qui nous entoure, rejetant tout fardeau et le péché qui nous enveloppe si aisément, courons avec patience la course qui est devant nous,2 fixant les yeux sur Jésus, le chef et le consommateur de la foi, lequel, à cause de la joie qui était devant lui, a enduré la croix, ayant méprisé la honte, et est assis à la droite du trône de Dieu.3 Car considérez celui qui a enduré une telle contradiction de la part des pécheurs contre lui-même, afin que vous ne soyez pas las, étant découragés dans vos âmes.
4 Vous n'avez pas encore résisté jusqu'au sang en combattant contre le péché,5 vous avez oublié l'exhortation qui s'adresse à vous comme à des fils "Mon fils, ne méprise pas la discipline du *Seigneur, et ne perds pas courage quand tu es repris par lui;6 car celui que le *Seigneur aime, il le discipline, et il fouette tout fils qu'il agrée".7 Vous endurez des peines comme discipline: Dieu agit envers vous comme envers des fils, car qui est le fils que le père ne discipline pas?8 Mais si vous êtes sans la discipline à laquelle tous participent, alors vous êtes des bâtards et non pas des fils.9 De plus, nous avons eu les pères de notre chair pour nous discipliner, et nous les avons respectés; ne serons-nous pas beaucoup plutôt soumis au Père des esprits, et nous vivrons?10 Car ceux-là disciplinaient pendant peu de jours, selon qu'ils le trouvaient bon; mais celui-ci nous discipline pour notre profit, afin que nous participions à sa sainteté.11 Or aucune discipline, pour le présent, ne semble être un sujet de joie, mais de tristesse; mais plus tard, elle rend le fruit paisible de la justice à ceux qui sont exercés par elle.12 C'est pourquoi, redressez les mains lassées et les genoux défaillants,13 et faites des sentiers droits à vos pieds, afin que ce qui est boiteux ne se dévoie pas, mais plutôt se guérisse.14 Poursuivez la paix avec tous, et la sainteté, sans laquelle nul ne verra le Seigneur,15 veillant de peur que quelqu'un ne manque de la grâce de Dieu; de peur que quelque racine d'amertume, bourgeonnant en haut, ne vous trouble, et que par elle plusieurs ne soient souillés;16 de peur qu'il n'y ait quelque fornicateur, ou profane comme Ésaü, qui pour un seul mets vendit son droit de premier-né;17 car vous savez que, aussi, plus tard, désirant hériter de la bénédiction, il fut rejeté, (car il ne trouva pas lieu à la repentance), quoiqu'il l'eût recherchée avec larmes.
18 Car vous n'êtes pas venus à la montagne qui peut être touchée, ni au feu brûlant, ni à l'obscurité, ni aux ténèbres, ni à la tempête,19 ni au son de la trompette, ni à la voix de paroles, voix telle que ceux qui l'entendaient prièrent que la parole ne leur fût plus adressée;20 (car ils ne pouvaient supporter ce qui était enjoint: "Si même une bête touche la montagne, elle sera lapidée;21 et Moïse, si terrible était ce qui paraissait, dit: Je suis épouvanté et tout tremblant;)22 mais vous êtes venus à la montagne de Sion; et à la cité du Dieu vivant, la Jérusalem céleste; et à des myriades d'anges, l'assemblée universelle;23 à l'assemblée des premiers-nés écrits dans les cieux; et à Dieu, juge de tous; et aux esprits des justes consommés;24 et à Jésus, médiateur d'une nouvelle alliance; et au sang d'aspersion qui parle mieux qu'Abel.25 Prenez garde que vous ne refusiez pas celui qui parle: car si ceux-là n'ont pas échappé qui refusèrent celui qui parlait en oracles sur la terre, combien moins échapperons -nous, si nous nous détournons de celui qui parle ainsi des cieux,26 duquel la voix ébranla alors la terre; mais maintenant il a promis, disant: "Encore une fois je secouerai non seulement la terre, mais aussi le ciel".27 Or ce "Encore une fois" indique le changement des choses muables, comme ayant été faites, afin que celles qui sont immuables demeurent.28 C'est pourquoi, recevant un royaume inébranlable, retenons la grâce par laquelle nous servions Dieu d'une manière qui lui soit agréable, avec révérence et avec crainte.29 Car aussi notre Dieu est un feu consumant.
