God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.

Because if the word which came through the angels was fixed, and in the past every evil act against God's orders was given its full punishment;

how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak],

but Christ, as Son over his house, whose house are we, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end.

Therefore, since the promise remains for some to enter His rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to [grasp it and did not] enter because of [their unbelief evidenced by] disobedience,

So, we should do our best to enter into that state of rest, so that no one fails [to do so] by following the same example of disobedience [i.e., as seen in the Israelites. See verses 2, 6].

and must be one who is able to bear patiently with the ignorant and erring, because he himself also is beset with infirmity.

Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

And see how great this one is, to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best of the spoils,

now 'tis past dispute, he that is blessed is inferior to him that blesses:

When he says, A new agreement, he has made the first agreement old. But anything which is getting old and past use will not be seen much longer.

And let us bestow thought on one another with a view to arousing one another to brotherly love and right conduct;

But continually recall to mind the days now past, when on being first enlightened you went through a great conflict and many sufferings.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

For 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.

For you have knowledge that even long after, when he was desiring the blessing for his heritage, he was turned away, though he made his request frequently and with weeping; because the past might not be changed.

and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which those who heard desired that the word might not be spoken to them any more,??20 for they could not bear what was commanded, And if a beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned;

(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: