For this cause left I thee in Crete, that the things lacking thou mayest arrange, and mayest set down in every city elders, as I did appoint to thee;

not paying attention to Jewish myths and the commandments and rules of men who turn their backs on the truth.

and above all make your own life a pattern of right conduct, having in your teaching no taint of insincerity, but a serious tone,

These are the things you should teach. Encourage and refute with full authority. Do not let anyone look down on you.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

An heretical man after a first and second admonition have done with,

So although as a Christian I feel quite free to order you to do what ought to be done,

Whom I would gladly have kept with me, that he might have ministered unto me as thou wouldst have done, in the bonds of the gospel.

Only I wished to do nothing without your consent, so that his kind action of yours might not be done under pressure, but might be a voluntary one.

But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

And again, when God brought the First-born into the world, he said-- 'Let all the angels of God bow down before him.'

But to which of the angels has he ever said, "Sit down at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don't see all things subjected to him, yet.

Forasmuch, then, as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part with them, for to put down through death him that had lordship over death: that is to say, the devil.

don't harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness,

while it is said, "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts, as in the rebellion."

for we do enter into the rest -- we who did believe, as He said, 'So I sware in My anger, If they shall enter into My rest -- ;' and yet the works were done from the foundation of the world,

he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."

For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

Wherefore, dismissing the elementary discourse concerning the Christ, unto maturity, let us be tending, not, again, a foundation, laying down - of repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God,

But we, even while we speak in this tone, have a happier conviction concerning you, my dearly-loved friends--a conviction of things which point towards salvation.

God is not unfair; he will not forget what you have done, or the love you have shown for his sake in ministering, as you still do, to the saints.

This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells],

(for there was nothing final about the Law), and a better hope begins to dawn, through which we may approach God.

And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation -- for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,

who does not need, as the old high priests did, to offer sacrifices every day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people??or this last he has done once for all, in offering up himself.

Now in the things which we are saying the chief point is this : We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. This contained a golden jar which held the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the [two stone] tablets of the covenant [inscribed with the Ten Commandments];

But [only] once a year the head priest goes alone into the inner room [i.e., Holy of Holies], and never without [animal] blood, which he offers [as a sacrifice] for himself and for the sins done in ignorance by the people.

For that was only a type, to continue down to the present time; and, in keeping with it, both gifts and sacrifices are offered, though incapable of satisfying the conscience of the worshiper;

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

for ever sat down at the right hand of God, From thenceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

partly while all men wondered and gazed at you for the shame and tribulation that was done unto you, and partly while ye became companions of them which so passed their time.

So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

And the just one shall live by faith; but if he draw down, my soul is not contented in him.

And we are not of drawing down to perdition; but of faith to the acquisition of the soul.

For he was looking for the strong town, whose builder and maker is God.

By faith Sara also herself received power for the laying down of seed, and brought forth during the time of age, for she deemed him faithful having promised.

But now their desire is for a better country, that is to say, for one in heaven; and so it is no shame to God to be named their God; for he has made ready a town for them.

by faith Jacob dying -- each of the sons of Joseph did bless, and did bow down upon the top of his staff;

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians having tried were swallowed down.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

quenched the force of fire, escaped the jaw of the sword. Out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, bowed down armies of aliens.

were stoned, were hewn asunder, were tempted, were slain with swords, walked up and down in sheep skins, in goat skins, in need, tribulation, and vexation,

of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered up and down in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and caverns of the earth.

Wherefore let us also - seeing that we are compassed with so great a multitude of witnesses - lay away all that presseth down, and the sin that hangeth on us, and let us run with patience, unto the battle that is set before us,

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.

For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don't grow weary, fainting in your souls.

and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, "My son, don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

For you know that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance [there was no way to repair what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], even though he sought for it with [bitter] tears.

See that you don't refuse him who speaks. For if they didn't escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

But, the saying, Yet once for all, maketh clear the removal of the things which can be shaken, as of things done with, - that they may remain, which cannot be shaken.

Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.

Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited.

For we don't have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.

Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

Don’t be deceived, my dearly loved brothers.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Therefore, have done with all filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that Message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls.

Don't delusively content your selves with being of the audience, but put what you hear in practice:

My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.

and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”

have not you made an arbitrary distinction, don't your judgments flow from a vicious principle?

Yet you dishonored that poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?

Don’t they blaspheme the noble name that was pronounced over you at your baptism?

If you really fulfil the royal law laid down by scripture, You must love your neighbour as yourself, well and good;

for the judgment without kindness is to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.

and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?

don't you see his actions and his faith conspir'd, and that his faith had its perfect effect in his conduct?

My brethren, don't affect many of you to be doctors, considering, that those of us who are such, shall be tried with the greater severity.

The tongue, a fire, the world of iniquity: the tongue sits down in the midst of our members, and corrupting the whole body, and setting on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire from hell.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth.

This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you?

You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.

You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.

You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Be bitterly afflicted and lament, and let your tears run down; let your laughter be converted into mourning, and your joy into dejection.

Cast down yourselves before the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Don’t criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

How foolish it is to say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this town, and be there for a year and do business there and get wealth:

You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

COME now, ye rich men, let your tears run down, howling over your miseries which are coming upon you.

Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

Don't grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won't be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.

But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no;" so that you don't fall into hypocrisy.

And by the prayer of faith the man who is ill will be made well, and he will be lifted up by the Lord, and for any sin which he has done he will have forgiveness.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

And he made another prayer, and the heaven sent down rain and the earth gave her fruit.

whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don't see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory --

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

If you call "Father" the one who judges everyone impartially according to what they have done, you must live in reverent fear as long as you are strangers in a strange land.

knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower of it falls down; but the word of the Lord remains forever."