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,

So let us do our best to be admitted to that rest, so that not one of us may fail through the same sort of disobedience.

For God's message is alive and full of power in action, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the depths of soul and spirit, to the dividing of joints and marrow, and passing judgment on the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

For every high priest who is taken from men is appointed to officiate on behalf of men in matters relating to God, that is, to offer gifts and sin-offerings.

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.

So then let us once for all quit the elementary teaching about Christ and continue progressing toward maturity; let us stop relaying a foundation of repentance from works that mean only death, and of faith in God,

For a piece of ground that drinks in the rains so frequently falling on it, and continues yielding vegetation useful to those for whose sakes it is cultivated, receives from God His blessings.

But in your case, my dearly loved friends, even though we speak in such a tone, we are sure of better things, yea, things that point to salvation.

And we desire each one of you to continue to show the same earnestness to the very end, that you may enjoy your hope to the fullest,

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.

For it is a custom among men to take oath by something greater than themselves, and an oath taken for confirmation settles any dispute among them.

so that by these two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to prove false, we who have taken refuge with Him may have encouragement strong enough to make us seize upon the hope that lies ahead of us.

Now see how great this man must have been that even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils.

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.

Now beyond any contradiction, it is always the inferior that is blessed by the superior.

For it is very clear that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing as to priests.

who is appointed not on the basis of a physical qualification but on the basis of a power flowing from a life that cannot end.

but He, on the other hand, because He Himself lives on forever, enjoys the only priesthood that has no successors in office.

as officiating Priest in that sanctuary, which is also the true tent of worship, which the Lord and not man set up.

and yet they officiate in a sanctuary that is a mere copy and shadow of the heavenly one, as Moses, when he was about to make the tent of worship, was warned, for, said He, "See to it that you make it all just like the pattern shown you on the mountain."

Unlike the one that I made with their forefathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide by their covenant with me, so I did not care for them,' says the Lord.

'For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel in those days,' says the Lord; 'I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. And nevermore will each one need to teach his fellow-citizen,

But behind the second curtain is the tent that is called the holy of holies,

with its golden incense-altar and the chest for the covenant, completely covered with gold, and in it a golden jar which held the manna, Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets on which the covenant was written;

By this the Holy Spirit was showing that there was as yet no access to the real sanctuary while the outer tent was still in existence,

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 when Christ came as the High Priest of good things that have already taken place, He went by way of that greater and more perfect tent of worship, not made by human hands, that is, not belonging to this material creation,

how much more surely will the blood of Christ, who with an eternal Spirit gave Himself a spotless offering to God, purify your consciences from works that mean mere death, to serve the ever living God?

And this is why He is the Mediator of a new covenant, in order that, after He had suffered death for securing redemption from the offenses committed under the first covenant, those who had been invited to share it might obtain the eternal inheritance promised them.

For when a will is made, it is necessary that the death of him who makes it be proved.

saying, "This is the blood that ratifies the covenant which God commanded me to make with you."

So, on the one hand, the copies of the original things in heaven had to be purified with such sacrifices; but on the other hand, the original things themselves in heaven with better sacrifices than these.

For it was not a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, that Christ entered, but it was into heaven itself that He went, in order now to appear for us in the very presence of God.

And He does not enter to offer Himself over and over again, as the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own;

for, if that had been the case, He would have had to suffer over and over again, ever since the creation of the world. But, as it is, once at the close of the ages He has appeared, to put away sin by His sacrifice.

Indeed, just as men must die but once and after that be judged,

For since the law cast only a shadow of the blessings to come and did not possess the reality itself of those blessings, the priests with the same sacrifices that are perpetually offered year after year cannot make perfect those who come to worship.

It is by this will of God that we are consecrated through the offering of Jesus' body once for all.

from that time waiting till His enemies should be made the footstool of His feet.

For by that one sacrifice He has made perfect for all time those who are consecrated to Him.

"'This is the covenant that I will make with them: In those last days,' says the Lord, 'I will put my laws into their hearts, and write them on their minds,'"

the new and living way which He opened for us, through the curtain, that is, His physical nature,

let us, without ever wavering, keep on holding to the hope that we profess, for He is to be trusted who has made the promise,

Let us stop neglecting our meeting together, as some do, but let us continue to encourage one another, and all the more because you see that the great day is drawing near.

but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and that fiery indignation which is going to devour God's enemies.

How much severer punishment do you suppose that one deserves who tramples the Son of God underfoot, and counts as a common thing the blood of the covenant by which he was consecrated, and has insulted the Spirit that grants God's unmerited favor?

For we know who it was that said, "Vengeance belongs to me, I will pay back!" and again, "The Lord will be His people's judge."

For you showed sympathy with those who were in prison and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, for you knew that you had in yourselves and in heaven one that was lasting.

But we are not of a disposition to draw back so as to perish, but we have faith that leads to the saving of the soul.

By faith we understand that the worlds were created, beautifully coordinated, and now exist, at God's command; so the things that we see did not develop out of mere matter.

By faith Abel offered a sacrifice more acceptable to God than Cain did, for by it he was approved as an upright man, since God approved him for the offering he made; and by it he still continues to speak, though dead.

By faith Enoch was transplanted from earth, so that he did not experience dying; and he could not be found, because God had transplanted him from earth. For before he was transplanted from earth evidence was given him that he pleased God;

but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that there is a God and that He gives rewards to all who earnestly try to find Him.

By faith Noah, on being divinely warned about things not seen as yet, in reverence prepared an ark for saving his family, and by his faith condemned the world and became possessor of the uprightness that results from faith.

By faith Abraham, on being called, obeyed in starting off for a country which he was to receive as his own, and he did it in spite of the fact that he did not know where he was going.

By faith he made his temporary home in the land that God had promised him, although a land inhabited by others, living merely in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were to share the promise with him.

For he was confidently looking forward to that city with the solid foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Sarah received strength to become pregnant, and actually gave birth to a child, although she was past the time of life for it, because she thought that He who made her the promise was to be trusted.

And so there sprang from one man, and that dead as to any prospects for offspring, a people as numberless as the stars in the sky and as the sands beside the seashore.

These people all died victoriously as a result of their faith, although they did not receive the blessings promised; that is, because they really saw them in the far-off future and welcomed them, and so professed to be only foreigners and strangers here on earth.

For people who make such a profession as this show that they are in search of a country of their own.

By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, offered Isaac as a sacrifice; that is, he who had received the promise was starting to offer as a sacrifice his only son,

For he considered the fact that God was able to raise people from the dead; and so from the dead, in a figure, he did receive him back.

By faith, Moses, at his birth was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's decree.

because he preferred to suffer hardships with the people of God than to have the passing enjoyment that results from sin,

and thought the reproach endured for the Christ was greater wealth than all the treasures in Egypt, for he kept his eye upon the reward.

By faith he instituted the Passover and the pouring of blood upon the doorposts, so that the destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.

Women by a resurrection received their dead again; others endured tortures, because they would not accept release, that they might rise to a better life.

for God had provided something still better for us, that they, apart from us might not attain perfection.

Therefore, as we have so vast a crowd of spectators in the grandstands, let us throw off every impediment and the sin that easily entangles our feet, and run with endurance the race for which we are entered,

You must submit to discipline. God is dealing with you as His sons. For who is the son that his father never disciplines?

For they disciplined us only a short time, as it seemed proper to them, but He does it for our good, in order that we may share His holy character.

and keep your feet in straight paths, so that limbs may not be dislocated, but instead be cured.

Continue to live in peace with everybody and strive for that consecration without which no one can see the Lord.

Continue to look after one another, that no one fails to gain God's spiritual blessing; or some evil like a bitter root may spring up and trouble you, and many of you be contaminated by it --

For you know that, when later he wanted to get possession of the blessing, he was rejected, for he could find no opportunity to repent, although with tears he tried to get the blessing.

For you have not come to a blazing fire that can be touched, to gloom and darkness, storm

and trumpet-blast, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not a word more should be added;

and so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am terrified and terror-stricken!"

to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks a better message than even Abel's did.

See to it that you do not refuse to listen to Him who is speaking to you. For if they did not escape, because they refused to listen to him who warned them here on earth, how much less can we, if we reject Him who is from heaven?

but now His promise is, "Once more I will make not only the earth but heaven itself tremble." Now that expression, "Once more," signifies the final removal of the things that can be shaken, to let remain the things that cannot be shaken.

Let us, therefore, be thankful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and in this way continue to serve God acceptably in reverence and fear;

You must have a turn of mind that is free from avarice; you must be content with what you have, for God Himself has said, "I will never fail you, I will never forsake you."

Let us, therefore, go to Him outside the camp, enduring the reproach that He endured;

for we have no permanent city here, but we are searching for that city which is to be ours.

So then, through Christ, let us always offer God the sacrifice of praise; that is, the speech of lips that glorify the name of God.

Continue to obey and to be submissive to your leaders, for they are ever watching in defense of your souls, as men who will have to give account of their trust. Treat them in this way, so that they may work with joy and not with grief.

Pray for me, for I am sure that I have a clear conscience, and in everything I want to live a noble life.

And more especially do I beg you to do so, that I may very soon be brought back to you.

You must know that our brother Timothy has been released from prison. If he comes soon, he and I will see you together.

James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes that are scattered over the world.

for you surely know that what is genuine in your faith produces the patient mind that endures;

but you must let your endurance come to its perfect product, so that you may be fully developed and perfectly equipped, without any defects.

But he must ask in faith, without a doubt, for the man who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is whirled and swayed by the wind.

In accordance with His will He made us His children by the message of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

for a man's anger does not produce the uprightness that God requires.

But the man who looks at the flawless law that makes men free, and keeps on looking, proving himself to be, not a forgetful hearer but an actual doer of what it requires, will be blessed in what he does.

A religious worship that is pure and stainless in the sight of God the Father is this: To look after orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep one's own self unstained by the world.