Hebrews

12* Consequently let us too, having around us such a cloud of witnesses, take off everything heavy, and trammeling sin, and run steadily the race that lies before us, 2 looking to him who led the way in faith and brought it to completeness, Jesus, who for the joy that lay before him endured a cross, despising shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God’s throne. 3* For think over the case of him who has endured such opposition from sinners against themselves, so that you may not lose your nerve and give out.

4 You have not yet stood up to your fight with sin till the blood ran; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as sons, “My son, do not slight the Lord’s discipline nor be disheartened when you are corrected by him, 6 for it is the one the Lord loves that he disciplines, and he whips every son that he accepts.” 7* It is for discipline that you have trials to endure; God is treating you as sons; for what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 but if you are without discipline, of which all have had their share, then you are bastards and not sons. 9** And then, we had our bodily fathers as disciplinarians and stood in awe of them; shall we not much more be submissive to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a few days as they saw fit, but he for our advantage so that we shall partake of his holiness. 11* Any discipline does not in its present aspect seem to be a thing for gladness but for pain; but afterward it yields a peaceful fruit to those who have had their training by it, the fruit of righteousness.

12 Wherefore, brace up the unstrung hands and the palsied knees, 13* and make straight tracks for your feet, in order that what is lame may not get a sprain but may rather heal up. 14 Aim at peace with everyone, and sanctification (without which nobody will see the Lord), 15* having an eye to it that nobody coming short of God’s grace, no root of bitterness sending up its sprout, shall make trouble and thereby the rank and file be polluted, 16 no libertine or unsanctified man like Esau, who for one meal sold his rights as eldest son; 17 for you know how when he did afterward want to inherit the blessing he was ruled out; for he did not find a chance to change his mind though he tried for it in tears.

18* For you have not come to something tangible and burned with fire and to darkness and gloom and thick air, 19* and trumpet-tone, and such a sound of words that the hearers declined to have more said to them, 20 for they could not bear the charge that was given, “if even a beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned,” 21 and, so fearful was the display, Moses said “I quail and quiver”; 22 but you have come to Mount Sion and the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and tens of thousands of angels 23 in festival throng, and a church of firstborn sons registered in heaven, and God the Judge of all, and the spirits of perfected saints, 24 and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and a blood of sprinkling that speaks better than Abel’s. 25 See to it that you do not decline him who speaks; for if those did not escape when they had on earth declined him who was giving the revelation, much more we, who turn our backs on him who is doing it from heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised “One time more I will shake not only the earth but the sky too.” 27 And “one time more” expresses the displacement of the shaken things as of things that have been made, in order that the unshaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, raised to the throne of an unshakable empire, let us have a thankful spirit, through which we shall worship God acceptably; with reverence and fear— 29 for our God is a consuming fire.