in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all [things], through whom also he made the world,

who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all [things] by the word of power. [When he] had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

And concerning the angels he says, "The one who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire,"

Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

how will we escape [if we] neglect so great a salvation which had [its] beginning [when it] was spoken through the Lord [and] was confirmed to us by those who heard,

For it was fitting for him for whom [are] all [things] and through whom [are] all [things] in bringing many sons to glory to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings.

For both the one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified [are] all from one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Therefore, since the children share in blood and flesh, he also in like manner shared in these [same things], in order that through death he could destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

and could set free these who through fear of death were subject to slavery throughout all their lives.

For in that which he himself suffered [when he] was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

who was faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses also [was] in his household.

For this one is considered worthy of greater glory than Moses, inasmuch as the one who builds it has greater honor than the house.

For every house is built by someone, but the one who built all [things] [is] God.

For who, [when they] heard [it], were disobedient? Surely [it was] not all who went out from Egypt through Moses?

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

And to whom did he swear [they would] not enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient?

{For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us}, just as those also [did], but the message {they heard} did not benefit them, [because they] were not united with those who heard [it] in faith.

For we who have believed enter into rest, just as he has said, "As I swore in my anger, '{They will never enter} into my rest.'" And yet these works have been accomplished from the foundation of the world.

Since therefore it remains [for] some to enter into it, and the ones to whom the good news was proclaimed previously did not enter because of disobedience,

For the one who has entered into his rest has also himself rested from his works, just as God [did] from his own [works].

And no creature is hidden in the sight of him, but all [things are] naked and laid bare to the eyes of him to whom {we must give our account}.

Therefore, [because we] have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who has been tempted in all [things] in the same way, without sin.

being able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and led astray, since he himself also is surrounded by weakness,

Thus also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you,"

who in the days of his flesh offered up both prayers and supplications, with loud crying and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard as a result of his reverence.

and being perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him,

For everyone who partakes of milk [is] unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.

For [it is] impossible [concerning] those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and become sharers of the Holy Spirit,

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

in order that through two unchangeable things, in which [it is] impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before [us],

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham [as he] was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything--in the first place, [his name] is translated "king of righteousness," and then also "king of Salem," that is, "king of peace";

But see how great this man [was], to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth from the spoils!

And indeed those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a commandment to collect a tenth from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers, although {they are descended from Abraham}.

But the one who did not trace [his] descent from them collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

And, {so to speak}, even Levi, the one who receives tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham.

For the one about whom these [things] are spoken belongs to another tribe from which no one has officiated at the altar.

who has become [a priest] not according to a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

but he with an oath by the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You [are] a priest {forever}'"),

Therefore also he is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, [because he] always lives in order to intercede on their behalf.

who does not {need every day} like the former high priests to offer up sacrifices for his own sins [and] then for the [sins] of the people, because he did this once for all [when he] offered up himself.

For the law appoints men [as] high priests who have weakness, but the statement of the oath, after the law, [appoints] a Son, who is made perfect {forever}.

Now [this is] the main point in what has been said: we have a high priest such as this, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, [because there] are those who offer the gifts according to the law,

who serve a sketch and shadow of the heavenly [things], just as Moses was warned [when he] was about to complete the tabernacle, for he says, "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain."

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled sanctify [them] for the ritual purity of the flesh,

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

And because of this, he is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that, [because] a death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions [committed] during the first covenant, those who are the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

For where [there is] a will, [it is] a necessity [for] the death of the one who made the will to be established.

For a will [is] in force concerning those who are dead, since [it is] never in force when the one who made the will is alive.

thus also Christ, having been offered once in order to bear the sins of many, will appear for the second time without reference to sin to those who eagerly await him for salvation.

For the law, possessing a shadow of the good [things] that are about to come, not the form of things itself, [is] never able {year by year} by means of the same sacrifices which they offer without interruption to make perfect those who draw near.

For otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the ones who worship, having been purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

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

Let us hold fast to the confession of [our] hope without wavering, for the one who promised [is] faithful.

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

How much worse punishment do you think the person will be considered worthy of who treats with disdain the Son of God and who considers ordinary the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy and who insults the Spirit of grace?

For we know the one who said, "Vengeance [is] mine, I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

sometimes being publicly exposed both to insults and to afflictions, and sometimes becoming sharers with those who were treated in this way.

For yet "a very, very little [while], [and] the one who is coming will come and will not delay.

But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but among those who have faith to the preservation of [our] souls.

Now without faith [it is] impossible to please [him], for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.

By faith also, {with Sarah}, he received {the ability to procreate} even {past the normal age}, because he regarded the one who had promised [to be] faithful.

For those who say such [things] make clear that they are seeking a homeland.

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

with reference to whom it was said, "In Isaac your descendants will be named,"

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, [because she] welcomed the spies in peace.

who through faith conquered kingdoms, accomplished justice, obtained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,

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

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

For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary in your souls [and] give up.

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

Endure [it] for discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son [is there] whom a father does not discipline?

Furthermore, we have had {our earthly fathers} who disciplined [us], and we respected [them]. Will we not much rather subject ourselves to the Father of spirits and live?

Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

[that] no one [be] a sexually immoral or totally worldly [person] like Esau, who for one meal traded his own birthright.

and to the noise of a trumpet, and to the sound of words which those who heard begged [that] not [another] word be spoken to them.

and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous [people] made perfect,

Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape [when they] refused the one who warned [them] on earth, much less [will] we [escape], [if we] reject the [one who warns] from heaven,

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; {considering the outcome of their way of life}, imitate their faith.

Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings, for [it is] good [for] the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods by which those who participate have not benefited.

We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle do not have the right to eat.

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not [with] groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

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

equip you with every good [thing] to do his will, carrying out in us [what is] pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom [be] the glory {forever}. Amen.

Know [that] our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you, if he comes quickly [enough].