International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us,

1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3Think about the one who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you may not become tired and give up.

3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

5You have forgotten the encouragement that is addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline or give up when you are corrected by him.

5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;

6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he punishes every son he accepts."

6FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."

7What you endure disciplines you: God is treating you as sons. Is there a son whom his father does not discipline?

7It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8Now if you are without any discipline, in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not God's sons.

8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. We should submit even more to the Father of our spirits and live, shouldn't we?

9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

10For a short time they disciplined us as they thought best, but God does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness.

10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

11All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12Therefore, strengthen your tired arms and your weak knees,

12Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

13and straighten the paths of your life, so that your lameness may not become worse, but instead may be healed.

13and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

14Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

15See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled.

15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

16No one should be immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

16that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

17For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he could not find any opportunity to repent, even though he begged to repent with tears.

17For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

18You have not come to something that can be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom,

18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,

19to a trumpet's blast, or to a voice that made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.

19and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.

20For they could not endure the command that was given: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."

20For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED."

21Indeed, the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling."

22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to tens of thousands of angels joyfully gathered together,

22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,

23to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of righteous people who have been made perfect,

23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

24to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel's.

24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

25See to it that you do not ignore the one who is speaking. For if the hearers did not escape when they ignored the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is from heaven!

25See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.

26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."

26And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."

27The expression "once more" signifies the removal of what can be shaken, that is, what he has made, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

27This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and worship God in reverence and fear in a way that pleases him.

28Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

29For "our God is an all-consuming fire."

29for our God is a consuming fire.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org