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,

Wherefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Christ, unto the perfection we may advance, not again a foundation laying of reformation from dead works, and of faith on 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 also of hands, of rising again also of the dead, and of judgment age-during,

3 A nd this we will do if God permits.

and this we will do, if God may permit,

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 impossible for those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit,

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

and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age,

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 having fallen away, again to renew to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public 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 earth, that is drinking in the rain many times coming upon it, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom also it is dressed, doth partake of 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

and that which is bearing thorns and briers disapproved of, and nigh to cursing, whose end for burning;

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

and we are persuaded, concerning you, beloved, the things that are better, and accompanying salvation, though even thus we speak,

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 to forget your work, and the labour of the love, that ye shewed to His name, having ministered to the saints and ministering;

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 each one of you the same diligence to shew, unto the full assurance of the hope unto 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 ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patient endurance are inheriting 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 to Abraham God, having made promise, seeing He was able to swear by no greater, did swear by Himself,

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

saying, `Blessing indeed I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee;'

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

and so, having patiently endured, he did obtain 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 do swear by the greater, and an end of all controversy to them for confirmation the oath,

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 which God, more abundantly willing to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, did interpose by 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 through two immutable things, in which impossible for God to lie, a strong comfort we may have who did flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before,

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

which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and entering into that within the vail,

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

whither a forerunner for us did enter -- Jesus, after the order of Melchisedek chief priest having become -- to the age.