God, who formerly spoke in many portions and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets, spoke to us in these last days by a Son,

in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all [things], through whom also he made the world,

having become by so much better than the angels, by as much as he has inherited a more excellent name than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say, "My Son art Thou: I have this day become Thy Father;" and again, "I will be a Father to Him, and He shall be My Son"?

and this is attested by a certain writer, who says, "what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?

And again, I will be a man who has trusted in him. And again, Behold, I and the children that God has given me.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For, of more glory than Moses, hath, this one been counted worthy - by as much as more honour than, the house, hath, he that prepared it;

see to it, brethren, that there is never in any one of you--as perhaps there may be--a sinful and unbelieving heart, manifesting itself in revolt from the ever-living God.

So there must still be a promised Sabbath of Rest for God's people.

and by a perfect obedience he procured eternal salvation for all that obey him;

having been designated by God to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

For God haying promised Abraham, when he could not swear by a greater, swore by himself,

For men indeed swear by a greater, and with them the oath is a term to all dispute, as making matters sure.

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Without [any record of] father or mother, nor ancestral line, without [any record of] beginning of days (birth) nor ending of life (death), but having been made like the Son of God, he remains a priest without interruption and without successor.

For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.

That is to say, not made by a law based on the flesh, but by the power of a life without end:

And by as much as [this was] not without an oath (for these on the one hand {have become priests} without an oath,

for these men hold office without any oath having been taken, but He holds it attested by an oath from Him who said to Him, "The Lord has sworn and will not recall His words, Thou art a Priest for ever" --

By as much as this, hath, Jesus, become surety of a better covenant also.

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

But now he has attained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted upon better promises.

This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel when that day comes, saith the Lord; I will set my laws within their mind, inscribing them upon their hearts; I will be a God to them, and they shall be a People to me;

Because, propitious, will I be as to their unrighteousnesses, and, of their sins, in nowise will I be mindful, any more.

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

For where there is a legal 'will,' there must also be a death brought forward in evidence--the death of him who made it.

It was therefore necessary that what was only a type of the heavenly sanctuary, should be purified by such sacrifices; but the heavenly sanctuary itself, by a more excellent sacrifice.

For by the one offering He has perfected forever and completely cleansed those who are being sanctified [bringing each believer to spiritual completion and maturity].

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, according to the custom of some, but exhorting, and by so much the more as this, by as much as ye behold, the day, drawing near.

Instead, [there will be] a fearful expectation of [coming] judgment and of [God's] raging fire which will consume His enemies.

by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God, in regard to the things seen not having come out of things appearing;

unto whom it had been said, "That by Isaac shall there be a seed bearing thy name:"

Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Now, at the time, discipline seems to be a matter not for joy, but for grief; yet it afterwards yields to those who have passed through its training a result full of peace--namely, righteousness.

Try to be at peace with everyone, and strive for that consecration without which no one can see the Lord.

Looking with care to see that no man among you in his behaviour comes short of the grace of God; for fear that some bitter root may come up to be a trouble to you, and that some of you may be made unclean by it;

lest any one be a fornicator, or a profane person, as Esau, who in exchange for one morsel of food did sell his birthright,

For the order which said, If the mountain is touched even by a beast, the beast is to be stoned, seemed hard to them;

And the words, Still one more, make it clear that there will be a taking away of those things which are shaking, as of things which are made, so that there may be only those things of which no shaking is possible.

Let love of your fellow believers continue.

Obey your leaders, submit to them; for they are alive to the interests of your souls, as men who will have to account for their trust. Let their work be a joy to them and not a grief ??which would be a loss to yourselves.