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

But now, at the end of these days, it has come to us through his Son, to whom he has given all things for a heritage, and through whom he made the order of the generations;

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;

What will come on us, if we do not give our minds to such a great salvation? a salvation of which our fathers first had knowledge through the words of the Lord, and which was made certain to us by those to whom his words came;

Because it was right for him, for whom and through whom all things have being, in guiding his sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation complete through pain.

For the word of God is living and full of power, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through and making a division even of the soul and the spirit, the bones and the muscles, and quick to see the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Having then a great high priest, who has made his way through the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us be strong in our faith.

And though he was a Son, through the pain which he underwent, the knowledge came to him of what it was to be under God's orders;

Now if it was possible for things to be made complete through the priests of the house of Levi (for the law was given to the people in connection with them), what need was there for another priest who was of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron?

(Because the law made nothing complete), and in its place there is a better hope, through which we come near to God.

By so much is it a better agreement which we have through Jesus.

So that he is fully able to be the saviour of all who come to God through him, because he is ever living to make prayer to God for them.

But now his position as priest is higher. because through him God has made a better agreement with man, based on the giving of better things.

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things of the future, through this greater and better Tent, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this world,

And has gone once and for ever into the holy place, having got eternal salvation, not through the blood of goats and young oxen, but through his blood.

How much more will the blood of Christ, who, being without sin, made an offering of himself to God through the Holy Spirit, make your hearts clean from dead works to be servants of the living God?

And for this cause it is through him that a new agreement has come into being, so that after the errors under the first agreement had been taken away by his death, the word of God might have effect for those who were marked out for an eternal heritage.

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

But give thought to the days after you had seen the light, when you went through a great war of troubles;

By faith Abel made a better offering to God than Cain, and he had witness through it of his righteousness, God giving his approval of his offering: and his voice still comes to us through it though he is dead.

By faith Noah, being moved by the fear of God, made ready an ark for the salvation of his family, because God had given him news of things which were not seen at the time; and through it the world was judged by him, and he got for his heritage the righteousness which is by faith.

By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it had been dry land, though the Egyptians were overcome by the water when they made an attempt to do the same.

Who through faith overcame kingdoms, did righteousness, got their reward, kept the mouths of lions shut,

And not one of these got the good things of the agreement, though they all had a good record through faith,

Having our eyes fixed on Jesus, the guide and end of our faith, who went through the pains of the cross, not caring for the shame, because of the joy which was before him, and who has now taken his place at the right hand of God's seat of power.

Let us then make offerings of praise to God at all times through him, that is to say, the fruit of lips giving witness to his name.

Now may the God of peace, who made that great keeper of his flock, even our Lord Jesus, come back from the dead through the blood of the eternal agreement,

Make you full of every good work and ready to do all his desires, working in us whatever is pleasing in his eyes through Jesus Christ; and may the glory be given to him for ever and ever. So be it.