but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God's grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.

For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.

Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was.

Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,

Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.

Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,

Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.

He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one.

But showing its fault, God says to them, "Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

"It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.

"And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, 'Know the Lord,' since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.

"For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer."

When he speaks of a new covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.

Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.

And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.

They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,

And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.

For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.

Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands -- the representation of the true sanctuary -- but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God's presence for us.

for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.

For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin?

"Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.

where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.

then he says, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer."

Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,

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

For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession.

But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

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

By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.

And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.

and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more.

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel's does.

Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too."

Now this phrase "once more" indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.

We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.

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

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly.

You should know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.