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,

and when He again introduceth the First-born into the world, he saith, "And let all the angels of God worship Him."

but to the Son, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness:

thou lovest righteousness and hatest iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thine associates."

God also testifying together with them by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the holy Spirit, according to his own will.

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.

And again, "I will trust in Him:" and again, "Behold, I, and the children which God hath given me."

Whence it behoved Him to be made in all things like unto his brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high-priest in the things concerning God, to make atonement for the sins of the people:

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

Take heed, my brethren, least there be in any of you a wicked heart of unbelief in departing from the living God:

for it is thus said concerning the seventh day, "And God rested the seventh day from all his works."

There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God:

for he that is entered into his rest, hath also himself ceased from his works, as God did from his.

For the word of God is lively and efficacious, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the very joints and marrow, and judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Having therefore a great high-priest, that is passed into the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession:

For every high-priest taken from among men, is appointed for the sake of men in things relating to God, that he may offer gifts and sacrifices for sins:

And no one taketh this honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.

having been declared by God an high-priest after the order of Melchisedec.

For whereas ye ought for the time to be teachers of others, ye have need again of some one to teach you the first rudiments of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not of solid food.

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

and of faith in God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, and of the resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgement: (tho' we will do this also, if God permit:)

and of the good word of God,

and the powers of the gospel-age, and yet fall away, should be renewed again to repentance: since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and make an open example of Him.

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:

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewn to his name, by having ministred to the saints, and yet ministring.

For when God made the promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying,

Wherefore God being willing more abundantly to manifest unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it with an oath:

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,

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days recorded, nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, remaineth a priest continually.

for the law made nothing perfect, but the introducing of a better hope did, by which we draw near to God.

wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost, those that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

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.

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and I will inscribe them on their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

But Christ being come an high-priest of the good things to come, hath entered once for all into the holy places, through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this building,

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?

saying, this is the blood of the covenant, which God hath enjoined you.

For Christ is not entered into holy places made with hands, which were but types of the true ones; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

For the law having but a faint shadow of good things to come, and not the full image of the things, can never, even by the great annual sacrifices which they offer statedly, make the comers thereunto perfect.

then said I, Lo I come, as in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God."

"Lo I come to do thy will, O God." (He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.)

but He having offered one sacrifice for sins, is for ever sat down at the right hand of God;

his flesh, and having a great high-priest over the house of God,

(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?

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

For ye have need of patience, that having done the will of God ye may receive the promise.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, for the things which are seen were not made of things which appear.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts: and by it, though dead, he yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God:

whereas without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe, that He is, and is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

By faith Noah being warned by God of things which were not yet seen, moved with pious fear, prepared an ark for the safety of his family; whereby he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose maker and founder is God.

But they desire a better, that is, an heavenly one; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city.

concluding that God was able to raise him even from the dead; from whence indeed he had in a manner received him.

chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin:

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain by the sword: they went about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted,

God having provided something better concerning us, that without us they might not be made perfect.

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.

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

For they indeed corrected us for a while, as seemed good to them; but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

looking to it, least there be any one falling short of the grace of God, least any root of bitterness springing up should be troublesome, and by it many be defiled:

but ye are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,

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,

Wherefore since we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and holy fear:

for our God is a consuming fire.

Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed is not defiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

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

be not then carried about by various and strange doctrines; for it is good that the heart be established by grace, and not in meats, in which those that have been most exact, have not profited by them.

Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered without the gate.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, desiring in all things to behave well.

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.