1 Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Faith Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 12:2Lit looking to fixing our eyes on Jesus, the 12:2Or leader author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, fainting 12:3Lit souls in heart.The Father’s Discipline
4 You have not yet resisted 12:4Lit as far as blood to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,“My son,do not regard lightly the discipline of the 12:5In OT, Yahweh, cf. Prov 3:11 Lord,Nor faint when you are reproved byHim;
6 For those whom the 12:6 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Prov 3:12 Lord lovesHe disciplines,AndHe flogs every son whomHe receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whomhisfather does not discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we 12:9Lit were having had 12:9Lit fathers of our flesh earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of 12:9Or our spirits spirits, and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but Hedisciplines usfor our benefit, so that we may share His holiness.
11 And all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful, but to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
12 Therefore, 12:12Lit make straight strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord,
15 seeing to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; that noroot of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
16 thatalso there beno sexually immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for asinglemeal.
17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.Contrast of Sinai and Zion
18 For you have not come toa mountainthat can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,
19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words whichwas such thatthose who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.
20 For they could not bear what was being commanded, “If even a beast touches the mountain,it will be stoned.”
21 And so terrible was what appeared,thatMoses said, “Iam full of fearand trembling.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of 12:22Or angels in festive gathering, and to the church angels,
23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits oftherighteous made perfect,
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better thanthe bloodof Abel.An Unshakable Kingdom
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warnedthemon earth, 12:25 Lit much rather we will not escape... much lesswillweescapewho turn away from Him whowarnsfrom heaven.
26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once moreIwill shake not only the earth,but also the heaven.”
27 Now thisexpression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us 12:28Lit have show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;