1 T herefore 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,

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 teaching 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 T his will we do, if God permits.

And this we will do, if God permits.

4 F or concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made 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 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 a nd 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.

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 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;

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 thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

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

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 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.

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 W e desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to 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 won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.

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, since 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 T hus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

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

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

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

17 I n this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with 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 may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take 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, a hope both sure and steadfast 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 one which enters within the veil,

20 w here as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after 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.