but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the world.

Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire."

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him,

But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

For because he himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.

He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

And to whom did he swear that they would never enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?

For we also have had the good news preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall never enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

He can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is beset with weakness.

So also Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but it was he who said to him, "You are my son, today I have begotten you";

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly fear.

and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

for every one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their sense trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,

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.

And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, though these also are descended from Abraham.

But this man whose genealogy is not derived from them received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

In this case tithes are received by mortal men, but in that case by one of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,

For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of carnal requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but he became a priest with an oath through the One who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"

Therefore he is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

For where a will is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.

For a will is in force only when somebody has died, since it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him.

For since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near.

For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful;

Anyone who has rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

How much severer punishment do you think a man will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as an unclean thing the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."

sometimes being publicly exposed to insult and persecution; and at other times standing side by side with those who were so treated.

"For yet in a very little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, because she considered him faithful who had promised.

For people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,

of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be called."

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies.

who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions,

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength, who became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight.

of whom the world was not worthy wandering in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

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

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.

For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives."

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

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

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

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

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

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves are also in the body.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.

Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this with joy, and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant,

equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you if he comes soon.

Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.