They profess to know God, but by their actions they disown Him; they are detestable, disobedient, and useless for anything good.

But speak thou the things that are fitting for the sound doctrine.

Aged men are to be without wine, noble, serious minded, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

That old women are to be self-respecting in behaviour, not saying evil of others, not given to taking much wine, teachers of that which is good,

In all things see that you are an example of good works; holy in your teaching, serious in behaviour,

Bondmen are to be obedient to their own masters, to be well-pleasing in all things, not speaking contrary,

or steal from them. Instead, they are to show complete and perfect loyalty, so that in every way they may make the teaching about God our Savior more attractive.

while we are waiting for the realization of our blessed hope at the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Christ Jesus,

who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.

These are the things you should teach. Encourage and refute with full authority. Do not let anyone look down on you.

Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work,

They are not to insult anyone or be argumentative. Instead, they are to be gentle and perfectly courteous to everyone.

(not by works that are in righteousness that we did but according to His kindness,) He did save us, through a bathing of regeneration, and a renewing of the Holy Spirit,

It is a message to be trusted, and I want you to be emphatic about these things, so that those who believe in God may be careful to take the lead in doing good. These things are right and render service to mankind.

But hold yourself aloof from foolish controversies, pedigrees, strife, and wrangles about the law, for these are fruitless and futile.

A man whose opinions are not those of the church, after a first and second protest, is to be kept out of your society;

it being plain that such a person is perverted, and knows in his own conscience that his tenets are false.

All who are with me wish to be remembered to you. Remember me to all who love me as Christians. Spiritual blessing be with you all.

so that the fellowship that thou hast in the faith is fruitful through knowledge of all good things, which are in you by Jesus Christ.

For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you, my brother.

I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life.

along with [John] Mark [Note: This shows that Mark was now back in the good graces of Paul. See Acts 15:36-40], Aristarchus, Demas [Note: This man later deserted Paul. See II Tim. 4:10] and Luke, who are [also] my fellow-workers. [Note: These men, unlike Epaphras who was imprisoned with Paul, were free to minister for Christ there in Rome].

For to what angel did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have become your Father"?

You have been a lover of righteousness and a hater of evil; and so God, your God, has put the oil of joy on your head more than on the heads of those who are with you.

And: "You, Lord, in the beginning founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands.

They will perish, but thou are permanent. And they will all become old as a garment.

And you will fold them up just like a robe, and they will be changed like the changing of one's coat, but you are the same, and your years will never cease."

But of which of the angels has he said at any time, Take your seat at my right hand till I put all those who are against you under your feet?

Are not the angels all attending spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are going to be unceasing possessors of salvation?

how shall *we* escape if we are indifferent to a salvation as great as that now offered to us? This, after having first of all been announced by the Lord Himself, had its truth made sure to us by those who heard Him,

For it was not to angels that He gave authority over that world to be, of which we are speaking.

But one has [solemnly] testified somewhere [in Scripture], saying,

“What is man, that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man, that You graciously care for him?

You made him a little bit lower than the angels [i.e., a little less exalted]. [Note: Although these Psalms passages referred to mankind, they are here applied to Jesus. See verse 9]. You crowned him with splendor and honor {{some ancient manuscripts add "and placed him as ruler over what you made"}}.

thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." now since he has put all in subjection to him, he left nothing that is not subjected to him. however we do not see as yet that all things are put under him.

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.

For it was fitting for him, through whom are all things, and because of whom are all things, having brought many sons to glory, to make the pathfinder of their salvation fully perfect through sufferings.

For both He who is purifying them and those who are being purified all spring from one Father; so He is not ashamed to call them brothers,

and again, "As for Me, I will be one whose trust reposes in God;" and again, "Here am I, and here are the children God has given Me."

Therefore, since the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also similarly partook of the same, in order that through death he might render powerless him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

For inasmuch as He has suffered Himself by being tempted, He is able to give immediate help to any that are tempted.

Wherefore, christian brethren, you who are called to an heavenly inheritance, consider the apostle and high priest of the faith we profess, even Christ Jesus;

Besides, while Moses was faithful in every department of God's house as an attendant ??by way of witness to the coming revelation ??6 Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. Now we are this house of God, if we will only keep confident and proud of our hope.

but Christ as a Son over his house, whose house we are, if only we keep in possession our confidence and pride of hope, firm until the end.

Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, They are always led astray in their heart, and they did not know my ways.

For we are become comrades of the Christ, if we hold our first title deed firm until the very end.

For we also are having good-news preached, just as also those men, but the word of hearing did not benefit those men, not having been mixed together with faith in those who heard.

For we who have believed are being admitted to that rest, just as He has said: "As in my anger I took oath, they shall not be admitted to my rest," although God's works had been completed at the creation of the world.

Since then it still remains that some are being admitted to it and that those who first had the good news told to them were not admitted because of disobedience,

For all who are admitted to God's Rest rest after their work, just as God did after his.

And there is no creature concealed from his presence, but all things are naked and vulnerable to his eyes, before whom is the word to us.

For we do not have a High Priest who is incapable of sympathizing with us in our weaknesses, but we have One who was tempted in every respect as we are, and yet without committing any sin.

Who can be gentle to those who are ignorant and led astray, since he himself is also encompassed with weakness.

So also Christ did not glorify himself to become a high priest, but it was he who said to him, Thou are my Son, today I have begotten thee.

(And just as he says in another, Thou are a priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek.)

And when he had been made complete, he became the giver of eternal salvation to all those who are under his orders;

Of whom we have much to say which it is hard to make clear, because you are slow of hearing.

For although you ought to be teachers of others because you have been Christians so long, you actually need someone to teach you over and over again the very elements of the truths that God has given us, and you have gotten into such a state that you are in constant need of milk instead of solid food.

By people who live on milk I mean those who are imperfectly acquainted with the teaching concerning righteousness.

But solid food is for men of full growth, even for those whose senses are trained by use to see what is good and what is evil.

of teaching about washings (ritual purifications), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.]

[These are people] who were once enlightened [by the Gospel message], who had experienced the gift from heaven [i.e., forgiveness, never ending life, etc. See Rom. 6:23], who had partaken of the Holy Spirit [See Acts 2:38],

and have realized how good the word of God is and how mighty are the powers of the coming Age, and then fell away--

And who have fallen away, again, to be remoulding them into repentance; seeing they are again crucifying unto themselves the Son of God, and holding him up as an example.

For land which absorbs the rain that often falls on it, and bears plants that are useful to those for whom it is tilled, receives a blessing from God;

but that which bringeth forth thorns and briars, is rejected and near to a curse, (whose end is burning) so are they.

But we are persuaded better things about you, beloved, and things that have salvation, even though we speak this way.

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and the labor of love that ye showed toward his name, having served the sanctified, and who are serving.

but we desire that every one of you may shew the same concern, continuing to discharge the condition upon which your hopes are founded: that ye be not unactive,

so that you may not grow careless, but may follow the example of those who through their faith and patient endurance are now possessors of the blessings promised.

which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Which hope also entereth in, into those things which are within the veil,

And those of the descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood are authorized by the law to collect a tenth from the people; that is, from their own brothers, though they have sprung from Abraham.

Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; but in that case [concerning Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives on [perpetually].

Now if the crowning blessing was attainable by means of the Levitical priesthood--for as resting on this foundation the people received the Law, to which they are still subject-- what further need was there for a Priest of a different kind to be raised up belonging to the order of Melchizedek instead of being said to belong to the order of Aaron?

Because if the priests are changed, it is necessary to make a change in the law.

For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, from which no man has attended to the altar.

For he testifies, Thou are a priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek.

And inasmuch as it is not without an oath. For actually those who become priests are so without an oath,

but he with an oath, because of him who says to him, The Lord swore and will not change his mind, Thou are a priest into the age according to the order of Melchizedek.

And of course those who have become priests are more, because of being prevented to continue by death,

Hence also he is able to continue saving to the uttermost those who are ever drawing near to God through him, seeing that he is ever living to intercede for them.

The law makes high priests of men who are feeble; but the word of the oath, which was made after the law, gives that position to a Son, in whom all good is for ever complete.

Now of the things we are saying this is the chief point: We have such a high priest, who has taken his place at the right hand of God's high seat of glory in heaven,

Now every high priest is given authority to take to God the things which are given and to make offerings; so that it is necessary for this man, like them, to have something for an offering.

However, if He were still on earth, He would not be a priest at all, because there are those who officiate in accordance with the law in offering the gifts;

Who, indeed, are rendering divine service, with a glimpse and shadow, of the heavenly things; even as Moses hath received intimation, when about to complete the tent, - For see! saith he - Thou shalt make all things according to the model which hath been pointed out to thee in the mount.

But, as it is, the priestly service to which Christ has been appointed is as much better than the old as the agreement established by him and the promises on which it is based are superior to the former ones.

But finding fault with them, He says. "There are days coming," says the Lord, "When I will establish with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant;

and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we are not now to speak particularly.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,

which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,

since they deal only with food and drink and various washings, that is, with mere material regulations which are in force only until the time of setting things straight.

But Christ, having arrived a high priest of the good things that are coming, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,

For if the blood of bulls and goats and a heifer's ashes sprinkling those who are ceremonially unclean purifies them with physical cleansing,

And because of this he is mediator of a new covenant, so that a death having occurred for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, those who are called might take the promise of the eternal inheritance.

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

For this cause it was necessary to make the copies of the things in heaven clean with these offerings; but the things themselves are made clean with better offerings than these.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

And because by God's law death comes to men once, and after that they are judged;

so Christ was offered once for all to take away the sins of many, but again He will appear, without having anything to do with sin, to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him to bring them final salvation.