Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him;

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not made subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Since then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like 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 in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath built the house, hath more honor than the house.

For every house is built by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

For some, when they had heard, did provoke: yet, not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them: but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter into it, and they to whom it was first preached entered not because of unbelief:

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

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that hath passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

And no man taketh this honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as was Aaron:

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said to him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee.

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him that was able to save him from death, and was heard, in that he feared;

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;

For every one that useth milk, is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

But strong food belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs fit for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh to cursing; whose end is to be burned.

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shown towards his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail;

To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they come from the loins of Abraham:

But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is testified that he liveth.

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

For it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath, by him that said to him, The Lord swore, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

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

For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man should have somewhat also to offer.

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

Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern shown to thee in the mount.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for the second.

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and groweth old is ready to vanish away.

Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid around with gold, in which was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

The Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

But Christ being come a 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;

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him he will appear the second time without sin to salvation.

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once cleansed, would have had no more conscience of sins.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Of this the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

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

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised:

He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge his people.

Partly, while ye were made a gazing-stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, while ye became companions of them that were so used.

For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the seizing of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

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

For yet a little while, and he that is coming will come, and will not tarry.

But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which appeared.

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came, they might have had opportunity to return.

But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son,

Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Accounting that God was able to raise him even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect to the recompense of the reward.

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the first-born should touch them.

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, as she had received the spies with peace.

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

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Wherefore, seeing we also are encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.