In times past the word of God came to our fathers through the prophets, in different parts and in different ways;

For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.

Because if the word which came through the angels was fixed, and in the past every evil act against God's orders was given its full punishment;

how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak],

but Jesus, who was for a while inferior to the angels by his sufferings and death, we see was crown'd with glory and honour; when by the divine goodness, he had pass'd thro' death for every man.

Therefore, since the promise remains for some to enter His rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to [grasp it and did not] enter because of [their unbelief evidenced by] disobedience,

Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

now 'tis past dispute, he that is blessed is inferior to him that blesses:

but he, by virtue of his immortal state, hath a priesthood that does not pass by succession.

When he says, A new agreement, he has made the first agreement old. But anything which is getting old and past use will not be seen much longer.

And, for this cause, of a new covenant, is he mediator, - to the end that, death coming to pass for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the age-abiding inheritance;

We know who said, Vengeance is mine, I will exact a requital: and again, The Lord will pass sentence on his people.

But remember the past days in which, after ye had been illuminated, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;

By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

through faith he celebrated the passover, and sprinkled blood, that the destroying angel might pass by the first-born.

By faith they did pass through the Red Sea as through dry land, which the Egyptians having received a trial of, were swallowed up;

For you have knowledge that even long after, when he was desiring the blessing for his heritage, he was turned away, though he made his request frequently and with weeping; because the past might not be changed.