For the grace of God, which brings salvation to all men, has appeared,

looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and authorities, to obey rulers, to be ready for every good work,

But when the kindness and philanthropy of God our Savior appeared, he saved us,

This saying is true, and in respect to these things, I will that you affirm strongly, in order that those who have believed in God may be careful to practice good works: these are the things that are honorable and profitable for men.

Let our people also learn to practice good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.

grace be to you all, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

that your participation in the faith may be active in the acknowledgment of every good thing that is in us, to the honor of Christ Jesus.

but, without your consent, I was not willing to do any thing, that your good deed might not be as a matter of necessity, but one of free-will.

GOD, who in many parts and in many ways spoke in ancient times to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son,

And again, when he brings the first-begotten into the world, he says: And let all the angels of God worship him.

But to the Son: Thy throne, God, is from age to age: a scepter of rectitude is the scepter of thy kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore, God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

God also bearing testimony with them by signs and wonders, and by various mighty deeds, and by distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, that he might, by the grace of God, taste death for every man- we see him, on account of his having suffered death, crowned with glory and honor.

And again: I will put my trust in him. And again: Behold, I, and the children that God has given me.

"Wherefore, it behooved him to be made like his brethren in all things, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, in order to make expiation for the sins of the people.

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

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in apostatizing from the living God.

For we have had the good news preached to us, even as they had: but the word preached did not profit them, for it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it.

For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day, thus: And God did rest on the seventh day from all his works;

Since, then, it remains that some must enter into it, and they, to whom the good news was first preached, did not enter in on account of unbelief,

There remains, therefore, a sabbath state for the people of God.

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

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, and pierces 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.

Seeing, then, that we have a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

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

And no one takes this honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron also was called.

being called by God a high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

For though you ought to be teachers, considering the time, yet you have need that some one teach you again what are the first elements of the oracles of God; and you have be come such as have need of milk, and not of strong food.

But strong food belongs to those who are of mature age, who, by use, have their internal senses exercised to the discerning of both good and evil.

Therefore, omitting the elementary Christian teaching, let us go on to the perfection of Christian instruction, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

And this we will do, if God permit.

and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the coming age,

if they fall away; since they again crucify in themselves the Son of God, and put him to an open shame.

For the land which drinks up the rain that comes often upon it, and produces herbs suitable for those for whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God.

For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shown for his name by having ministered to the saints, and by continuing to minister.

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself,

Wherefore, God, being more abundantly willing to show to the heirs of his promise the immutability of his purpose, inter posed an oath,

that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have 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 returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him,

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but being made to resemble the Son of God, remains a priest forever.

(for the law made no perfect expiation), and the introduction of a better hope, by which we draw near to God.

Wherefore, he is able also to save through all time those who come to God by him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

and these serve the copy and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: See now, says he, that you make all things according to the pattern shown you in the mount.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord; putting my laws into their understanding, I will also write them upon their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people;

Now, when these things were thus arranged, the priests went, at all times, into the first tabernacle, discharging the service of God.

But Christ, having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, (that is, not of this building,)

how much more will the blood of the Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works, in order that you may serve the living God?

This is the blood of the covenant which God enjoins on you:

For the Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, the copies of the true; but he has entered heaven itself, now to present himself in the presence of God for us.

For the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, make a perfect expiation for those who come to them:

Then, said I, Behold, I come, (in the roll of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, God.

but after offering one sacrifice for sins, he himself sits continually at the right hand of God,

and having a great high, priest over the house of God,

and let us consider one another that we may excite to love and good works,

of how much severer punishment do you think he shall be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, a common thing, and has done despite to the Spirit of grace?

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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

for by this the ancients obtained a good reputation.

By faith we understand that the ages were set in order by the word of God, so that the things which are seen, have not come into being from things that appear.

By faith Abel offered to God more sacrifice than Cain; on account of which he received testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he, though dead, yet speaks.

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 the testimony that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

for he looked for a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

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

for he concluded that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; wherefore he received him even in like manner.

choosing rather to suffer evil with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season;

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in. sheep-skins, in goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, oppressed with evils,

And all these, having obtained a good reputation by faith, received not the promise,

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

looking to Jesus the author and finisher of the faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons: for what son is there whose father chastens him not?

For they, indeed, for a few days, chastened us as they thought it good; but he chastens us for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

taking care, lest any one slight the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, and by this many be defiled;

But you have come to Mount Zion, and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels;

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

Wherefore, as we receive a kingdom that can not be shaken, let us have gratitude, by which we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear:

for our God is a consuming fire.

Marriage is honorable among all men, and the bed undefiled; but lewd men and adulterers God will judge.

Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken to you the word of God: attentively consider the result of their conduct, and imitate their faith.

Be not carried away by various and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be strengthened with grace, not with meats, which have not profited those who were occupied with them.

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

Through him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

But forget not to do good, and to be liberal: for with such, sacrifices God is well pleased.

Pray for us: for we trust that we have a good conscience, willing to live honor ably in all things.

Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant,

perfect you in every good work, in order that you may do his will, working in you that which is acceptable in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory from age to age. Amen.

JAMES, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are in the dispersion, greeting.

Now, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.

Let no one say, when he is tempted, My temptation is from God; for God can not be tempted by evils, and he himself tempts no man.

every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor slightest trace of turning.

For the wrath of man produces not the righteousness of God.

Religion, pure and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Hear, my be loved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him?

You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.

And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.

With it we bless God, even the Father: and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.