how can we escape, if we pay no attention at all to a salvation that is so great? This is so because it was first proclaimed by the Lord Himself, and then it was proved to us to be valid by the very men who heard Him themselves,

but Christ [was faithful] as a son over his house, whose house we are, if we hold fast to our confidence and the hope we can be proud of.

but encourage one another every day, as long as we can still speak of Today, so that no one of you may have his heart hardened by the pleasantness of sin.

So while we can still speak of Today, if you hear him speak, do not harden your hearts, as they provoked him by doing.

For God's Message is full of life and power, and is keener than the sharpest two-edged sword. It pierces even to the severance of soul from spirit, and penetrates between the joints and the marrow, and it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart.

No creature of His can escape God's sight, but everything is bare and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we have to give account.

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.

So, we should approach, with confidence, God's throne of unearned favor, so we can receive mercy and obtain that favor to help us when we need it.

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in the things relating to God, in order that he can offer both gifts and sacrifices on behalf of sins,

Who can be gentle to those who are ignorant and led astray, since he himself is also encompassed with weakness.

he is obliged to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. besides, no man can assume

That hope we have as an anchor of the soul--an anchor that can neither break nor drag. It passes in behind the veil,

Now no one can dispute that it is the superior who blesses the inferior.

We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

(for the Law made nothing perfect), and there is introduced a better Hope, by means of which we can draw near to God.

and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can't speak now in detail.

which, as a symbol, remains to the present time, in which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that can not make perfect, as it respects the conscience, him that does the service;

For if the blood of goats and of bulls, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkled on the unclean, can cleanse them from external impurities;

Therefore, Christ is the Mediator of a New Agreement, so that [all] those people who have been called [by God] can receive the promise of the never ending inheritance. [This is possible because] a death has taken place for the redemption of [people's] sins who lived under the first Agreement.

and not in order that he can offer himself many times, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary {year by year} with blood not his own,

For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.

And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins:

let us hold the hope we avow without wavering (for we can rely on him who gave us the Promise);

And we should consider how we can stir up one another to love [more] and to perform good deeds.

Let us not neglect meeting together as some do, but let us encourage one another, all the more as you can see that the great Day is coming nearer.

Remember, if we sin willfully after we have gained a full knowledge of the Truth, there can be no further sacrifice for sin;

For you need endurance, so that after you have done God's will you can receive what he has promised.

And he whom I accept as righteous will find life through his faith. But if a man draws back, my heart can take no pleasure in him."

And what more can I say? For, time, will fail me while I go on telling - concerning Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, David also, and Samuel, and the prophets, -

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]?

For they disciplined [us] for a few days according to what seemed [appropriate] to them, but he [does so] for our benefit, in order that [we] can have a share in his holiness.

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"].

Continue to live in peace with everybody and strive for that consecration without which no one can see the Lord.

For you have not come to a blazing fire that can be touched, to gloom and darkness, storm

See to it that you do not refuse to listen to Him who is speaking to you. For if they did not escape, because they refused to listen to him who warned them here on earth, how much less can we, if we reject Him who is from heaven?

but now His promise is, "Once more I will make not only the earth but heaven itself tremble." Now that expression, "Once more," signifies the final removal of the things that can be shaken, to let remain the things that cannot be shaken.

Wherefore receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, may we hold fast the grace, by which we can offer to God acceptably divine service, with reverence and pious awe:

So we can confidently say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can men do to me?"

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not [with] groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

And I urge you people earnestly to do this [i.e., pray for me], so that I can be sent back to you sooner [i.e., by God's providence].