God, who at sundry times, and various ways, spake of old unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son,

whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.

Who being the refulgence of his glory and the imprest image of his person, and sustaining all things by his powerful word, having by Himself performed the purging away of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.

And as to the angels He saith, "Who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire:"

Are they not all ministring spirits, sent forth to attend on those who shall be heirs of salvation?

But we see Jesus, who was made for a little while lower than the angels, in order to suffer death, that by the grace of God He might taste death for every man, crowned with glory and honor.

For it became Him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect by sufferings:

and deliver those who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage.

who was faithful to Him that appointed Him, as Moses also was in all his house.

For He was accounted worthy of more honor than Moses, as he who hath built it, hath more honor than the house.

For every house is built by some one: and He who built all things is God.

But with whom was He provoked forty years? was it not with those that sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

and to whom did He swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to those that were disobedient?

For we who believe shall enter into rest, as He said above, "So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest:" though the works of creation were finished from the foundation of the world:

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some are to enter into it, and they to whom it was at first offered did not enter because of their unbelief,

And there is no creature concealed from his sight: but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him, to whom we are to give an account.

for we have not an high-priest who cannot sympathize with our infirmities, but was in all respects tempted in like manner with us, yet without sin.

who can have due compassion on the ignorant and those that are going astray; seeing he himself also is surrounded with infirmity:

Who in the days of his flesh, offered prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears, to Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in what He feared;

Concerning whom we have much to say and difficult to be explained, since ye are become dull of hearing.

but firm food is for persons come to age, who by habit have their senses exercised to a discernment both of good and evil.

who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Spirit,

For as the earth, which imbibeth the rain that is frequently coming upon it, and produceth herbs fit for those by whom it is cultivated, receiveth a blessing from God:

that ye would not be sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience are inheriting the promises.

that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to fail, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us;

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings,

and blessed him, to whom also Abraham divided the tenth of all his spoils; being in the first place, by interpretation of his name, king of righteousness, and moreover king of Salem, which is king of peace;

Now consider how great a man this was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

And those indeed of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment according to the law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brethren, though they came out of the loins of Abraham:

besides, here men that die receive tithes; but there he of whom it is testified that he liveth.

And (as one may say) even Levi, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham:

Now He, of whom these things are said, is of another tribe, of which none ever attended at the altar..

who is made not according to the law of a temporary command, but according to the power of an endless life.

(for they indeed are become priests without the solemnity of an oath; but He with an oath, by Him who said unto Him, "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:")

For such an high-priest was meet for us, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and higher than the heavens;

who hath no need, as the Levitical high-priests had, daily to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, and then for those of the people: for this He did once for all, in offering up Himself.

For the law appointeth men high-priests, who have infirmity; but the oath, recorded since the law, appointeth the Son to be priest for ever, being fully perfected for it.

Now the sum of the things that have been said is this, that we have such an high-priest, who is sat down at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens;

who worship under the representation and shadow of heavenly things; as Moses was ordered by God, when he was about to finish the tabernacle. For see, saith He, that thou make all according to the model shewn thee in the mount.

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works, that ye may serve the living God?

so Christ, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear the second time without sin, to those who are waiting for Him, unto salvation.

(for He is faithful who hath promised) and let us observe each other to the incitement of love and good works:

of how much greater punishment, think ye, shall he be counted worthy, who hath trampled under foot the Son of God, and accounted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and abused the Spirit of grace?

For we know who hath said, "To me belongeth vengeance, I will recompense, saith the Lord:" and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

partly, being made a public spectacle by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, as ye became associates of those who were so treated:

But we are not of those who withdraw to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

By faith also Sarah received strength to conceive seed, and brought forth a son when she was past age, because she accounted Him faithful who had promised.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son;

of whom it was told him, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he continued firm as seeing Him who is invisible.

By faith he observed the passover and sprinkling of the blood, that he, who destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians, might not touch them.

who by faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

distressed, (of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts, and mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth.

looking unto Jesus the leader 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.

Wherefore consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, that ye may not give out, fainting in your minds:

for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."

If ye endure chastening, God treateth you as sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not chastise?

Now if we had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much more be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

least there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one repast gave away his birthright.

to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,

See that ye reject not Him that speaketh; for if they escaped not, who rejected him that gave forth divine oracles on earth, much less shall we, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven:

Remember your guides, who spake the word of God to you; whose faith imitate, considering the happy end of their conversation.

We have an altar, of which those who perform service in the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting covenant,

make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom (if he come soon) I will see you.