but in these latter days He has spoken to us through a Son, whom He had appointed lawful owner of everything, and through whom He had made the worlds.

He is the reflection of God's glory and the perfect representation of His being, and continues to uphold the universe by His mighty word. After He had procured man's purification from sins, He took His seat at the right hand of God's majesty,

For if the message spoken through angels proved to be valid, and every violation and infraction of it had its adequate penalty,

and set at liberty those who all their lifetime had been subject to slavery because of their dread of death.

Therefore He had to be made like His brothers, so that He could be a sympathetic High Priest, as well as a faithful one, in things relating to God, in order to atone for the people's sins.

For we have become real sharers in Christ, if we keep firm to the end the faith we had at first,

With whom was He disgusted forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the desert?

For we have had the good news told to us as well as they, but the message heard did them no good, because they were not by faith made one with those who heeded it.

For we who have believed are being admitted to that rest, just as He has said: "As in my anger I took oath, they shall not be admitted to my rest," although God's works had been completed at the creation of the world.

Since then it still remains that some are being admitted to it and that those who first had the good news told to them were not admitted because of disobedience,

For if Joshua had really given them rest, He would not afterward have been speaking of another day.

since He had received from God the title of a High Priest with the rank of Melchizedek.

For when God made His promise to Abraham, He took an oath by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom He could take it,

And so by patiently waiting he obtained what God had promised him.

But in this case, the man whose ancestry is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and put his blessing on the man who had the promises from God.

Now if perfection had been reached through the Levitical priesthood -- for on it as a basis even the law was enacted for the people-- what further need would there have been of appointing a different priest, with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of designating one with the rank of Aaron?

for the law had never made anything perfect -- and so a better hope is brought to us, through which we have approach to God.

For if the first covenant had been faultless, there could have been no room for a second one.

So indeed the first covenant had its regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.

And this is why He is the Mediator of a new covenant, in order that, after He had suffered death for securing redemption from the offenses committed under the first covenant, those who had been invited to share it might obtain the eternal inheritance promised them.

For after every regulation in the law had been spoken by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, crimson wool, and a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled the book containing the law and all the people,

So, on the one hand, the copies of the original things in heaven had to be purified with such sacrifices; but on the other hand, the original things themselves in heaven with better sacrifices than these.

for, if that had been the case, He would have had to suffer over and over again, ever since the creation of the world. But, as it is, once at the close of the ages He has appeared, to put away sin by His sacrifice.

Otherwise, would they not have ceased offering them, because those who offered them, having once been purified, would have had no further consciousness of sins?

For you showed sympathy with those who were in prison and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, for you knew that you had in yourselves and in heaven one that was lasting.

By faith Enoch was transplanted from earth, so that he did not experience dying; and he could not be found, because God had transplanted him from earth. For before he was transplanted from earth evidence was given him that he pleased God;

By faith he made his temporary home in the land that God had promised him, although a land inhabited by others, living merely in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were to share the promise with him.

And if they had been cherishing the memory of the country they had left, they would have had an opportunity to go back.

By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, offered Isaac as a sacrifice; that is, he who had received the promise was starting to offer as a sacrifice his only son,

of whom it had been said, "Through Isaac your offspring must be traced."

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as a son of Pharaoh's daughter,

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who disobeyed God, because she had welcomed the scouts as friends.

Though all these people by their faith won God's approval, yet none of them received what He had promised,

for God had provided something still better for us, that they, apart from us might not attain perfection.

Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we used to treat them with respect; how much more cheerfully should we submit to the Father of our spirits, and live!