Hebrews 12

Run with endurance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.a ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.b ³Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.c

God disciplines those he loves

⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.d ⁵And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.e ⁶For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”f ⁷Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?g

⁸If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.h ⁹Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?i ¹⁰Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.j

¹¹No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.k ¹²Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.l ¹³Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.m

Pursue peace and holiness

¹⁴Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.n ¹⁵See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.o ¹⁶See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.p

¹⁷For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.q

A kingdom that cannot be shaken

¹⁸For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;r ¹⁹to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. ²⁰For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”s ²¹The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”t ²²Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angelsu ²³in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,v ²⁴to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.w

²⁵See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”x ²⁷The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.

²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.y ²⁹“For our God is a consuming fire.”z