1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large crowd of spectators [Note: Christians are pictured here as being in a crowded arena, performing in the games], we should lay aside every [excessive] weight and sin that so easily entangle us, and with perseverance, we should run the race [of life] that lies before us.
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also (A)lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us (B)run with (C)endurance the race that is set before us,
1 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,
1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses(A) surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance(B) the race that lies before us,
1 Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us,
2 We should fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and completer of the [or, "our"] faith. [Note: Jesus is here pictured as the one who completely fulfills the life of faith, or who provides us with the ability to live such a life]. [And] because He could look forward to joy, He endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right side of God's throne.
2 (a)fixing our eyes on Jesus, the (b)(D)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him (E)endured the cross, (F)despising the shame, and has (G)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2 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.
2 keeping our eyes on Jesus,(a) the source and perfecter(b) of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him(c) endured a cross and despised the shame(C) and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Now think about how Jesus endured such opposition against Himself from sinners, so that you do not grow weary and become discouraged [yourself].
3 For (H)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary (c)(I)and lose heart.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.(D)
3 Think about the one who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you may not become tired and give up.
4 You have not yet resisted to the point of [shedding] blood in your struggle against sin.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that was addressed to you as sons? [Prov. 3:11f says], "My son, do not take the discipline of the Lord lightly, and do not get discouraged when He rebukes you.
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,“(L)My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,Nor (M)faint when you are reproved by Him;
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightlyor faint when you are reproved by Him,
5 You have forgotten the encouragement that is addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline or give up when you are corrected by him.
7 [For the suffering] you are enduring [is] for your discipline. God is dealing with you as He does with [His] children, for what child is not disciplined by his father?
7 It is for discipline that you endure; (P)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
7 What you endure disciplines you: God is treating you as sons. Is there a son whom his father does not discipline?
8 But if you do not receive [such] discipline, like all of us do, then you are illegitimate children and not true children.
8 But if you are without discipline, (Q)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
8 But if you are without discipline—which all(e) receive(f)—then you are illegitimate children and not sons.(F)
8 Now if you are without any discipline, in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not God's sons.
9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them [for it]; should we not much rather submit to the Father of our spirits [i.e., God], so we can live [spiritually]?
9 Furthermore, we had (e)earthly fathers to discipline us, and we (R)respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to (S)the Father of (f)spirits, and (T)live?
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
9 Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?(G)
9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. We should submit even more to the Father of our spirits and live, shouldn't we?
10 For our human fathers disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them; but God disciplines us for our [spiritual] good, so that we may share in His holiness.
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, (U)so that we may share His holiness.
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness.(H)
10 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.
11 No discipline seems pleasant, but painful, at the time [it is received], yet later on it produces a crop of peace and righteousness in [the lives of] those who have been trained by it.
11 All discipline (V)for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the (W)peaceful fruit of righteousness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace(I) and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.(J)
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.
13 make straight paths for your feet," so that crippled limbs will not remain [permanently] disabled, but rather will be healed. [Note: The idea here is "remove all barriers to spiritual growth so you can live a faithful life"].
13 and (Y)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather (Z)be healed.
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated(g) but healed instead.(L)
13 and straighten the paths of your life, so that your lameness may not become worse, but instead may be healed.
14 Actively seek to live in peace with all people. And be dedicated to God, because no one will see God without this.
14 (AA)Pursue peace with all men, and the (AB)sanctification without which no one will (AC)see the Lord.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
15 Look carefully [at how you are living] so that no one falls away from God's unearned favor, and that no "poisonous plant sprouts up" to cause trouble and corrupt many people [Note: This is an analogy from Deut. 29:16-18 being used as a warning against the evil influence of wicked people],
15 See to it that no one (AD)comes short of the grace of God; that no (AE)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be (AF)defiled;
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.(O)
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled.
16 and that no one becomes immoral or ungodly, like Esau, who sold his right to the firstborn son's inheritance for a single meal.
16 that there be no (AG)immoral or (AH)godless person like Esau, (AI)who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent(P) person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for one meal.(Q)
16 No one should be immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
17 For you recall how, even after he [later] wanted to inherit the blessing, Esau was rejected [by his father Isaac. See Gen. 37:35-40]. For he was not able to get his father to change his mind, even though he tearfully begged him [or, "he was not able to change the situation, even though he shed tears over his loss"].
17 For you know that even afterwards, (AJ)when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
17 For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears.(R)
17 For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he could not find any opportunity to repent, even though he begged to repent with tears.
18 [Unlike the Israelites at Mount Sinai] you [Christians] have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that burned with fire [See Ex. 19:12, 16-19; 20:18-21; Deut. 4:11]; to [a place of] darkness, gloom and wind;
18 (AK)For you have not come to (AL)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
18 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm,
18 You have not come to something that can be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom,
19 to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words [from God] that the hearers begged not to have to listen to [anymore]. [See Ex. 20:19].
19 and to the (AM)blast of a trumpet and the (AN)sound of words which sound was such that those who heard (AO)begged that no further word be spoken to them.
19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. (Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them,
19 to a trumpet's blast, or to a voice that made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.
20 For those people could not stand [hearing] the command [Ex. 19:12f], "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned [to death]."
20 For they could not bear the command, “(AP)If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”
20 (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:
20 for they could not bear what was commanded: And if even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned!(S)(h)
20 For they could not endure the command that was given: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."
22 But you [Christians] have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. [Note: These terms describe people who have entered a spiritual relationship with God as part of the church]. [You have come] to a praise gathering of innumerable angels [Note: Christians are here pictured as assembled in worship of God, along with angels],
22 But (AR)you have come to Mount Zion and to (AS)the city of (AT)the living God, (AU)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to (AV)myriads of (h)angels,
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels in festive gathering,(U)
22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to tens of thousands of angels joyfully gathered together,
23 and to the church of the firstborn ones [i.e., those who have received an inheritance from their Father], whose names are recorded in heaven. [See Luke 10:20]. [You have come] to God, who is the Judge of all people, and to the spirits of righteous people who have become [morally] perfect [i.e., that great company of God's people who have gone on to their heavenly reward],
23 to the general assembly and (AW)church of the firstborn who (AX)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, (AY)the Judge of all, and to the (AZ)spirits of the righteous made perfect,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written(j) in heaven, to God who is the Judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,(V)
23 to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of righteous people who have been made perfect,
24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of a New Agreement [between God and mankind], and to the sprinkled blood [of Jesus], which says better things [to us] than [the blood of] Abel did. [Note: The contrast seems to be that "Abel's blood called for vengeance and death (See Gen. 4:10) whereas the blood of Christ provides mercy and life"].
24 and to Jesus, the (BA)mediator of a new covenant, and to the (BB)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than (BC)the blood of Abel.
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
24 to Jesus (mediator(W) of a new covenant(X)), and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.(Y)
24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel's.
25 Pay careful attention so that you do not refuse [to hear] God when He speaks to you. [See verse 9]. For if those people [i.e., the Israelites] did not escape [judgment] when they refused [to hear] Him who warned them on earth [i.e., God speaking through Moses at Mount Sinai], how much less [likely] will we escape [judgment] if we reject Him who warns from heaven [i.e., Christ]?
25 (BD)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is (BE)speaking. For (BF)if those did not escape when they (BG)refused him who (BH)warned them on earth, (i)much less will we escape who turn away from Him who (BI)warns from heaven.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
25 Make sure that you do not reject the One who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven.(Z)
25 See to it that you do not ignore the one who is speaking. For if the hearers did not escape when they ignored the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is from heaven!
26 God's voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, saying [Hag. 2:6], "I will cause not only the earth to shake once more, but also heaven [as well]."
26 And (BJ)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “(BK)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven.(AA)(k)
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."
27 Now the words, "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken --- that is, the created universe --- so that those things which cannot be shaken will remain. [Note: These "things" have been variously interpreted to be eternal truth, the heavenly kingdom, the new heavens and earth, etc.].
27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes (BL)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken(AB)—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.
27 The expression "once more" signifies the removal of what can be shaken, that is, what he has made, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, we should be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken [i.e., the church. See Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:6, 9]. So, with reverence and awe, we should serve God in a way that pleases Him,
28 Therefore, since we receive a (BM)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us (j)show gratitude, by which we may (BN)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace.(l) By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,(AC)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and worship God in reverence and fear in a way that pleases him.
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