1 T herefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 l ooking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the 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 F or consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. A Father’s Discipline

4 Y e have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:

You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

5 a nd ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;

and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “ My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;

6 F or whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 I t is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 B ut if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 F urthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 F or they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11 A ll chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 W herefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;

Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

13 a nd make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.

and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

14 F ollow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

15 l ooking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

16 l est there be any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.

that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

17 F or ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought is diligently with tears.

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 F or ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,

19 a nd the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;

and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.

20 f or they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;

For they could not bear the command, “ If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”

21 a nd so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “ I am full of fear and trembling.”

22 b ut ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,

23 t o the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

24 a nd to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. The Unshaken Kingdom

25 S ee that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:

See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.

26 w hose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.

And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “ Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”

27 A nd this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 W herefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

29 f or our God is a consuming fire.

for our God is a consuming fire.