1 W herefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

2 o f the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 A nd this will we do, if God permit.

This will we do, if God permits.

4 F or as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 a nd tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

6 a nd then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

7 F or the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God:

For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;

8 b ut if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.

but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

9 B ut, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:

But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

10 f or God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.

For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

11 A nd we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end:

We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,

12 t hat ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.

13 F or when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself,

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,

14 s aying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”

15 A nd thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 F or men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

17 W herein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;

In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;

18 t hat by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:

that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.

19 w hich we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

20 w hither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.