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 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 doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, 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 we will do if God permits.

This will we 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 concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were 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 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 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 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 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 bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. A Better Estimate

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 confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.

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 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 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 show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until 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 you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ

that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited 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 a 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, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”

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

Thus, having patiently endured, 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 indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

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 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 might have strong consolation, 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 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 entering into that which is 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 as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.