GOD, who at many times and in many ways spoke anciently to the fathers by the prophets,

in these last days spoke to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds,

who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his substance, and sustaining all things by the word of his power, having made a purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high,

And of the angels he says, Who makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire;

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to serve on account of those who are about to inherit salvation?

how shall we escape who have neglected so great a salvation? which began to be spoken by the Lord, and was affirmed to us by those who heard,

For it became him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, to perfect by sufferings the prince of their salvation, bringing many sons to glory.

and liberate those who all their life were subjects of servitude to the fear of death.

who is faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was in his house.

for who having heard committed provocation? Did not all indeed who came out of Egypt with Moses?

And with whom was he displeased forty years? Was it not with those that sinned? whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest? was it not to them that disobeyed?

For we have also received the good news as they did; but the word of the report did not profit them, not being accompanied with faith in those who heard.

For we enter into the rest who believed, as he said, I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest, although of works made from the foundation of the world.

Since then it remains that some entered into it, and those to whom it was first preached entered not in on account of unbelief,

For he [Christ] who entered into his rest, also himself rested from his works, as God from his.

and there is nothing which is not manifest in his sight; for all things are naked and exposed to his eyes, to whom our discourse relates.

HAVING therefore a great chief priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast the profession.

For we have not a chief priest who cannot sympathise with our infirmities, but one tried in all respects as we are, without sin.

Who in the days of his flesh having offered both prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, with loud cries and tears, [and being heard and delivered] from fear,??8 although he was a Son, learned obedience from what he suffered,

and being made perfect became to all who obey him an author of eternal salvation,

Concerning whom we have much to say, and that which is difficult to explain, because you have become dull of hearing.

For you who ought on account of the time to be teachers, have need that one should teach you again what are the first rudiments of the oracles of God, and have need of milk and not solid food.

But the land which drinks in the rain that often falls on it, and produces plants beneficial to those by whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God;

that you be not stupid, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who fled to lay hold on the hope set before us,

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

to whom also Abraham gave a tenth of all, first being interpreted king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace,

And behold, how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils.

And the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to tithe the people according to the law, that is their brothers, although descended from Abraham;

but he whose descent is not reckoned from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him who has the promises.

And here, men who die receive tithes, but there, one of whom it is testified that he lives.

And so to speak, Levi also who receives tithes paid tithes through Abraham;

For he of whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, of which no one attended to the altar;

who was not a priest after the law of an external commandment, but after the power of imperishable life.

And as he was not [constituted] without swearing,??21 for they were made priests without swearing, but he with swearing by him who says to him, The Lord swore, and he will not change, You are a priest forever;??22 by so much is Jesus the pledge of a better covenant.

whence also he is able to save forever those who come to God through him, always living to intercede for them.

who has no need daily as the chief priests first to present sacrifices for their sins, then for those of the people; for this he did once for all, having offered himself.

BUT the chief thing in addition to what has been said is, that we have such a chief priest who sat on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens,

who serve for a symbol and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when about to make the tabernacle; for see, he says, that you make all things after the pattern shown you in the Mount;

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who with an eternal spirit offered himself without fault to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

so also Christ having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time without sin, to those who look for him for salvation.

Any one who despised the law of Moses died without mercy by two or three witnesses;

of how much greater punishment do you suppose he will be thought worthy, who has trodden down the Son of God, and accounted defiled the blood of the covenant with which he was purified, and treated injuriously the Spirit of grace.

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of faith to the saving of the soul.

For those who say such things show that they seek a native country.

of whom it was said, In Isaac shall your posterity be called,

who by faith subdued kingdoms, performed righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains, and in caves and openings of the earth.

And none of these who became martyrs through faith received the promise,

looking to the chief guide and perfecter of the faith, Jesus, who for the joy set before him despised the shame and endured the cross, and sat down on the right hand of God.

for the Lord corrects those whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.

If you endure correction, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not correct?

Moreover, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

that no one may be a fornicator or unholy person like Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright.

and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which those who heard desired that the word might not be spoken to them any more,??20 for they could not bear what was commanded, And if a beast touches the mountain it shall be stoned;

and to the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge the God of all, and to spirits of the righteous made perfect,

See that you refuse not him that speaks; for if they did not escape who refused him that gave answers on earth, much more shall we [not escape] who turn ourselves away from him in heaven;

Remember your guides who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the end of their life follow the faith.

We have an altar of which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

And may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of the eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,

perfect you in every good work to do his will, doing in you that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever; amen.

Know that brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.