But one in a certain passage testifieth, saying, "What is man, that thou rememberest him, or a son of man, that thou regardest him?"

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.

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

Seeing therefore that the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he also himself, in exact resemblance, partook of the same, that by death he might destroy him who held the power of death, that is, the devil;

For he verily took not on him the angelic nature, but assumed that of the seed of Abraham.

And Moses indeed was faithful in all that house of his as a servant, to bear testimony of the things which should be after spoken;

harden not your hearts, as in that bitter provocation, at the day of the temptation in the wilderness;

Wherefore I was provoked against that generation, and said, They are always deluded in heart, and they have not known my ways:

so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.

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

but exhort one another daily, whilst to-day remains, that no one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to those who did not believe?

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

For we who have believed, have entered into the rest, even as he said, "So, I sware in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my rest;" and that notwithstanding the works were done from the foundation of the world.

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

Let us then earnestly endeavour to enter into that rest, lest any person fall after the same example of unbelief.

Let us therefore approach with boldness the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for seasonable help.

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:

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, beloved, we are persuaded concerning you that things are better, and connected with salvation, though we thus speak.

But we earnestly desire that every one of you do manifest the same diligence, in order to obtain the full assurance of hope unto the end:

that ye be not slothful, but imitators of those who, by faith and long suffering, are inheriting the promises.

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;

to whom also Abraham gave a tenth share of all the spoil: being, as the interpretation of his name imports, first, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, that is, King of peace:

For they indeed of the sons of Levi, who are admitted to priesthood, have an order to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though also sprung from the loins of Abraham.

And here indeed dying men receive the tithes, but there he hath a testimony borne to him that he liveth.

If therefore there was perfection by the Levitical priesthood (for under that the people had the law given to them), what farther need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

For it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the priesthood;

and it is yet more abundantly evident, that there should arise another priest after the likeness of Melchisedec,

but this person, because he abideth for ever, hath a priesthood that passeth not over to another.

For every high-priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that this person also have somewhat to offer.

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 if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no place sought for a second.

not according to that covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I laid hold upon their hand to lead them up out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I took no longer care of them, saith the Lord.

the Holy Ghost thus signifying, that the way into the holies was not yet made manifest, whilst the first tabernacle held its station;

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?

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that, death being suffered for the redemption of transgressions committed against the first testament, they who are called might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.

Wherefore also that first testament was not consecrated without blood.

There was a necessity therefore that the representations of the things in heaven should be purified by these; but the celestial things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

and not that he should often offer up himself in sacrifice, as the high-priest enters every year into the holies with blood not his own,

(for in that case he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world:) but now once for all at the consummation of the ages hath he been manifested for the abolishing sin by the sacrifice of himself.

For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin.

Having said before that sacrifice, and oblation, and whole burnt-offerings and sin-offerings thou hast not chosen, nor takest pleasure in, (which are offered according to the law,)

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

Having therefore, brethren, entire liberty of entrance into the holies by the blood of Jesus??20 a way, which he hath consecrated for us, newly opened, and giving life, through the vail, that is, his flesh;

For ye have been fellow-sufferers with my bonds, and received with joy the plundering of your properties, knowing in yourselves that you have in the heavens a better substance, and permanent.

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

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

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.

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.

By faith also that very Sarah, who was barren, received ability for the conception of seed, and past the usual time of life brought forth a child, because she accounted that he who promised it, would be true to his promise.

All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them at a great distance, though believing and embracing them, and confessing that they were strangers and sojourners in the land.

Now they who speak thus, shew evidently that they are in earnest search of their native country.

And if indeed they had fixed their minds on that from whence they had gone forth, they might have had opportunity to go back to it again.

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.

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

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

By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.

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

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

THEREFORE also seeing we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and that most easily besetting sin, let us run with patience the race lying before us,

Consider then attentively him that endured from sinners such opposition against himself, that ye be not wearied out, fainting in your souls.

For they indeed for a few days as seemed proper to themselves corrected us; but he for our own advantage, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Wherefore stretch out again the hands that hang down, and the paralytic knees;

and make strait paths for your feet, that what is halting may not be turned out of the way; but that it may rather be healed.

For ye know, that when afterwards he wished to inherit the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place for a change of [his father's] mind, though he sought it earnestly with tears.

For ye have not approached the mountain that could only be groped for, and that burned with fire, and the thick cloud, and the darkness, and the tempest,

and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they who heard, earnestly begged that the discourse might not be directed to them:

and so terrible was the appearance, that Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and trembling:

and to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Beware that ye reject not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not, who rejected him, that upon earth spake by divine influence, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven:

Now this word yet once more manifests the removal of the things shaken, as of things formed, that the things not shaken may endure.

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:

So that we may with confidence say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

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

For we have not here an abiding city, but we earnestly seek that which is to come.

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

Obey your presidents, and be subject to them: for they are vigilant for your souls, as being to render an account, that they may do it with joy, and not groaning: for that would be disadvantageous for you.

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.

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.

Know that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.