Hebrews 12

¹Therefore, [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.

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.

³Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary [and] lose heart.

⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

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.

⁶For [the] Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”

⁷Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined [by his] father?

⁸If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

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?

¹⁰[Our 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.

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.

¹²Therefore strengthen [your] limp hands and weak knees.

¹³Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame {may} not be disabled, but rather healed.

¹⁴Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

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.

¹⁶[See to it] that [no one is] sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

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.

¹⁸For you have not come to [ a mountain that ] can be touched and [that] is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;

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.”

²¹The sight was so terrifying [that] even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

²²Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, [to the] city of [the] living God, [the] heavenly Jerusalem. [You have come] to myriads of angels

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,

²⁴to Jesus [the] mediator of a new covenant, and to [the] sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than [the blood] of Abel.

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.”

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.

²⁹“For our God [is a] consuming fire.”