CHAPTER V.
DIVINE CHASTENING, MOUNT SINAI AND MOUNT ZION, MORAL DUTIES, ETC.
1 12:4You have not yet resisted to blood contending against sin. 12:5And you have forgotten the exhortation which says to you as to sons, My son, despise not the correction of the Lord and faint not when rebuked by him, 12:6for the Lord corrects those whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. 12:7If you endure correction, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not correct? 12:8But if you are without correction of which all are partakers, then you are of foreign birth, and not sons. 12:9Moreover, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 12:10For they for a few days corrected us as seemed good to them, but he for the best, that we may partake of his holiness. 12:11And no correction seems to be joyful for the present but painful, but afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it.
2 12:12Wherefore hold up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees, 12:13and make straight courses for your feet, that the lame may not be turned out of the way, but may rather be healed. 12:14Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord, 12:15taking care that no one may come short of the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springing up may make trouble and by it many be defiled, 12:16that no one may be a fornicator or unholy person like Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright. 12:17For you know that afterwards, wishing also to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind, though he sought it with tears. 12:18For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched, and to a burning fire, and blackness and darkness and a tempest 12:19and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which those who heard desired that the word might not be spoken to them any more,— 12:20for they could not bear what was commanded, And if a beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned; 12:21and so fearful was the sight, that Moses said, I fear and tremble,— 12:22but you have come to Zion, the mountain and city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels in general assembly, 12:23and to the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge the God of all, and to spirits of the righteous made perfect, 12:24and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to a sprinkled blood which speaks better than Abel.
3 12:25See that you refuse not him that speaks; for if they did not escape who refused him that gave answers on earth, much more shall we [not escape] who turn ourselves away from him in heaven; 12:26whose voice then shook the earth, but now it has been promised, saying, Hereafter once for all I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven. 12:27And this, Hereafter once for all, signifies the removal of the things shaken as of things made, that those not shaken may continue. 12:28Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace through which we may serve God acceptably, with piety and fear; 12:29for our God is also a consuming fire.
4 13:1Let brotherly love continue. 13:2Forget not hospitality; for by this some without knowing it have entertained angels. 13:3Remember those bound as bound with them, and those injured as being yourselves also in the body. 13:4Marriage is honorable in all, and married life without blame; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 13:5Let your life be without avarice, and be contented with what you have; for he said, I will never leave you, I will never forsake you; 13:6so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear; what can man do to me?
5 13:7Remember your guides who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the end of their life follow the faith. 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. 13:9Be not carried about with various and strange doctrines; for it is good that the mind should be established with grace, not with aliments, in which those walking are not profited.
6 13:10We have an altar of which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 13:11For the bodies of those animals whose blood is carried into the sanctuary by the chief priest are burnt without the encampment. 13:12Wherefore also Jesus, that he might purify the people through his blood, suffered without the gate. 13:13Let us therefore go out to him without the encampment, bearing his reproach; 13:14for we have not here a city that continues, but we seek that which is to come. 13:15Through him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually to God, that is, the fruit of lips confessing his name. 13:16And forget not beneficence and liberality; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
7 13:17Obey your guides and be in subjection; for they watch for your souls as having to give an account, that they may do this with joy and not with grief; for this is unprofitable for you.
8 13:18Pray for us; for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things wishing to live well. 13:19And I exhort you do this the more, that I may sooner be restored to you.
9 13:20And may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of the eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 13:21perfect you in every good work to do his will, doing in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever; amen.
10 13:22And I beseech you, brothers, suffer the word of exhortation; for I have sent to you a letter in a few words. 13:23Know that brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 13:24Salute all your guides and all the saints. Those from Italy salute you. 13:25The grace be with you all; amen.