GOD, who spake to the fathers of old at various times, and in different manners by the prophets,

And again, when he introduces the first-begotten into the world, he saith, "Let all the angels of God also worship him."

But to the Son, "Thy throne, O God, is unto eternity; a sceptre of rectitude is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of exultation above those who partake with thee."

God superadding his testimony with them, by signs, and wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

But we see Jesus for a little while made lower than angels, by the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that, by the grace of God, he might taste of death for every one.

And again, "I will place my confidence in him." And again, "Behold! Here am I, and the children which God hath given me."

Wherefore he ought in all things to be made like to his brethren, in order to become a merciful and faithful high-priest in those things which relate to God, to make a propitiation for the sins of the people:

For every house is built by some person; but he who is the architect of all things is God.

Take heed, brethren, that there be not in any one of you a wicked heart of infidelity, [evident] in departure from the living God:

For he said in a certain passage concerning the seventh day to this purport, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."

A sabbatical rest then still remaineth for the people of God.

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath rested from his works, as God did from his own.

For the word of God is quickening, and energetic, and sharper than every two-edged sword, and piercing through and through, so as to divide both soul and spirit, both joints and spinal marrow, and critically judges the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Having then a great high-priest passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the confession.

FOR, every high-priest taken from among men, is constituted on behalf of men for those services which relate to God, that he should offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

And no man assumes to himself this honour, but he who is called of God, even as Aaron was.

publicly proclaimed of God high-priest after the order of Melchisedec.

For though ye ought for the time to be teachers of others, ye have again need that some one teach you the leading principles of the oracles of God; and are become as those who need milk, and not solid food.

But solid nourishment is proper for grown men, even as many as by habit have their organs of perception exercised for the discernment both of good and evil.

WHEREFORE, desisting from initiatory discourse respecting Christ, let us advance towards perfection; not again laying a foundation of repentance from dead works, and faith in God,

And so we will do, if God permit.

and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

and yet have fallen away: for they crucify again to themselves the Son of God, and expose him to public infamy.

For the earth which imbibes the rain which often falls upon it, and bringeth forth herbage suitable for those by whom it is cultured, receiveth a blessing from God;

For God is not unjust, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have demonstrated in his name, having ministered assistance to the saints, and still ministering.

For God when he gave the promise to Abraham forasmuch as he had nothing greater to swear by, sware by himself,

And thus God, designing more abundantly to demonstrate to the heirs of promise the immutability of his will, pledged himself by oath,

that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, 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, a priest of God most high, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but in exact resemblance with the Son of God, abideth a priest for ever.

For the law led to no perfection, but was an introduction to a better hope, by which we draw nigh unto God.

Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

who perform the service after the figure and shadow of things in the heavens, as Moses was divinely instructed, when he was about to finish the tabernacle. "For see," saith God, "that thou make all things according to the model shewed thee on the mount."

For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; giving my laws to their understanding, even on their hearts will I inscribe them: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

But Christ becoming the high-priest of future good things, through a better and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation;

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who, by the eternal Spirit, offered up himself in sacrifice without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, that we may perform divine service to the living God?

saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

For Christ is not entered into the holies made with hands, the antitypes of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the presence of God for us:

NOW the law, having a shadow of the good things which were to come, not the very substance of the things, cannot possibly, by the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually, make those perfect who approach [God];

then I said, Here am I; (in the volume of the book it is written of me) I come to do thy will, O God."

he then added, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He abolishes the first that he may establish the second.

but this person, having offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever hath seated himself at the right hand of God;

and having a great priest over the house of God,

and let us attentively observe one another, to excite an ardour of love and of good works:

by how much, think ye, shall he be counted worthy of more condign punishment who hath trampled on the Son of God, and regarded the blood of his testament, by which he was sanctified, as an unclean thing, and hath treated the gracious Spirit contumeliously?

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

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

By faith we understand that the worlds were exactly formed by the word of God, so that the visible objects were not made out of things which now appear.

By faith Abel offered unto God a sacrifice of more excellence than Cain, by which he received a testimony that he was a righteous man, God bearing witness upon his gifts: and by this, though dead, he still speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated, so as not to see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he was recorded to have been acceptable to God.

But without faith it is impossible to be acceptable; for he must believe, who cometh unto God, that he exists, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

For he expected a city having foundations, of which God is the planner and architect.

But now their longing desires are after a better country, that is, the heavenly one: wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he hath prepared a city for them.

reasoning that God was able to raise him up again, even from the dead; from whence also figuratively he had received him.

choosing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to have a temporary fruition of sin;

God having provided for us something better, that without us they should not attain to perfection.

earnestly looking up to Jesus the author and the finisher of faith; who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

If ye patiently endure correction, God carries himself towards you as his children: for who is the son whom the father doth not correct?

carefully observing lest any of you fail of attaining the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and by it many be defiled;

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

and to the general assembly and church of the first-born registered in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men perfected,

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:

for our God is a devouring fire.

Marriage is honourable for all persons, and the marriage bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Remember your presidents, who have spoken to you the word of God: the ultimate issue of whose conduct attentively observing, be imitators of their fidelity.

Be not tossed about by various and strange doctrines: for it is good to have the heart firmly established by grace, not by meats, in which observances they who have walked have found no manner of advantage.

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

By him therefore let us offer a sacrifice of praise perpetually to God, that is the fruit of our lips confessing his name.

But of beneficence, and liberal distribution, be not unmindful: for such sacrifices God accepts with delight.

Pray for us: for we have confidence that we maintain a good conscience, in all things desirous to conduct ourselves with propriety.??19 But I entreat you the rather to do this, that I may the more speedily be restored to you.

Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great pastor of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting testament,

make you fit for every good work to do his will, producing in you that which is acceptable in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory unto the everlasting ages. Amen.