Heb.12.1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb.12.1
Do you see what this means--all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running--and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.
Heb.12.1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Heb.12.1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Heb.12.1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
Heb.12.2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb.12.2
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
Heb.12.2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb.12.2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb.12.2
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven.
Heb.12.3
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Heb.12.3
When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Heb.12.3
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Heb.12.3
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Heb.12.3
Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up.
Heb.12.4
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Heb.12.4
In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through--all that bloodshed!
Heb.12.4
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Heb.12.4
You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Heb.12.4
After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
Heb.12.5
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb.12.5
So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either.
Heb.12.5
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Heb.12.5
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
Heb.12.5
And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said, "My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when he corrects you.
Heb.12.6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb.12.6
It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.
Heb.12.6
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Heb.12.6
For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
Heb.12.6
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children."
Heb.12.7
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb.12.7
God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training,
Heb.12.7
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Heb.12.7
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
Heb.12.7
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined?
Heb.12.8
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb.12.8
the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?
Heb.12.8
If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Heb.12.8
But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Heb.12.8
If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children after all.
Heb.12.9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb.12.9
We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live?
Heb.12.9
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Heb.12.9
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
Heb.12.9
Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever?
Heb.12.10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb.12.10
While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best.
Heb.12.10
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
Heb.12.10
For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Heb.12.10
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in his holiness.
Heb.12.11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb.12.11
At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
Heb.12.11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Heb.12.11
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Heb.12.11
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Heb.12.12
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb.12.12
So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!
Heb.12.12
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
Heb.12.12
Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
Heb.12.12
So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.
Heb.12.13
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb.12.13
Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!
Heb.12.13
"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Heb.12.13
and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Heb.12.13
Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.
Heb.12.14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb.12.14
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God.
Heb.12.14
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Heb.12.14
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
Heb.12.14
Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Heb.12.15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb.12.15
Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.
Heb.12.15
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Heb.12.15
looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Heb.12.15
Look after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favor of God. Watch out that no bitter root of unbelief rises up among you, for whenever it springs up, many are corrupted by its poison.
Heb.12.16
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb.12.16
Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite.
Heb.12.16
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Heb.12.16
lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
Heb.12.16
Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau. He traded his birthright as the oldest son for a single meal.
Heb.12.17
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Heb.12.17
You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing--but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
Heb.12.17
Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
Heb.12.17
For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Heb.12.17
And afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he wept bitter tears.
Heb.12.18
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb.12.18
Unlike your ancestors, you didn't come to Mount Sinai--all that volcanic blaze and earthshaking rumble--
Heb.12.18
You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;
Heb.12.18
For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,
Heb.12.18
You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai when God gave them his laws.
Heb.12.19
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb.12.19
to hear God speak. The earsplitting words and soul-shaking message terrified them and they begged him to stop.
Heb.12.19
to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,
Heb.12.19
and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.
Heb.12.19
For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice with a message so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.
Heb.12.20
For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb.12.20
When they heard the words--"If an animal touches the Mountain, it's as good as dead"--they were afraid to move.
Heb.12.20
because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."
Heb.12.20
(For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow."
Heb.12.20
They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."
Heb.12.21
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb.12.21
Even Moses was terrified.
Heb.12.21
The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
Heb.12.21
And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.")
Heb.12.21
Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."
Heb.12.22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb.12.22
No, that's not your experience at all. You've come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels
Heb.12.22
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,
Heb.12.22
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb.12.22
No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly.
Heb.12.23
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb.12.23
and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just.
Heb.12.23
to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
Heb.12.23
to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb.12.23
You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect.
Heb.12.24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb.12.24
You've come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the Mediator of this covenant. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel's--a homicide that cried out for vengeance--became a proclamation of grace.
Heb.12.24
to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Heb.12.24
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Heb.12.24
You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.
Heb.12.25
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb.12.25
So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn't get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings?
Heb.12.25
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
Heb.12.25
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,
Heb.12.25
See to it that you obey God, the one who is speaking to you. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, how terrible our danger if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!
Heb.12.26
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Heb.12.26
His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time--he's told us this quite plainly--he'll also rock the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern."
Heb.12.26
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
Heb.12.26
whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven."
Heb.12.26
When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also."
Heb.12.27
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb.12.27
The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.
Heb.12.27
The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb.12.27
Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb.12.27
This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.
Heb.12.28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb.12.28
Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander.
Heb.12.28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
Heb.12.28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Heb.12.28
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
Heb.12.29
For our God is a consuming fire.
Heb.12.29
He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!
Heb.12.29
for our "God is a consuming fire."
Heb.12.29
For our God is a consuming fire.
Heb.12.29
For our God is a consuming fire.
