1 T herefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

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

of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

3 A nd this we will do if God permits.

And this we will do, if God permits.

4 F or it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

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

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

6 i f they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

7 F or the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;

For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;

8 b ut if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. A Better Estimate

but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. Better Things for You

9 B ut, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.

But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

10 F or God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

11 A nd we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,

12 t hat you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ

so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 F or when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

14 s aying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”

saying, “ I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”

15 A nd so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

16 F or men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.

For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.

17 T hus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,

In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath,

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

so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

19 T his hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

20 w here the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

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