For [it is] evident that our Lord is a descendant of Judah, a tribe [with reference] to which Moses said nothing concerning priests.

For every high priest is appointed in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices; therefore [it was] necessary [for] this one also to have something that he offers.

who serve a sketch and shadow of the heavenly [things], just as Moses was warned [when he] was about to complete the tabernacle, for he says, "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain."

For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, occasion would not have been sought for a second.

For this [is] the covenant that I will decree with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws in their minds and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be {their} God and they will be {my} people.

containing the golden incense altar and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which [were] a golden jar containing the manna and the rod of Aaron that budded and the tablets of the covenant.

The Holy Spirit [was] making this clear, [that] the way [into] the holy place [was] not yet revealed, [while] the first tent was still in existence,

But Christ has arrived [as] a high priest of the good [things] to come. Through the greater and more perfect tent not made by hands, that is, not of this creation,

And because of this, he is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that, [because] a death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions [committed] during the first covenant, those who are the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

saying, "This [is] the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you."

and not in order that he can offer himself many times, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary {year by year} with blood not his own,

For the law, possessing a shadow of the good [things] that are about to come, not the form of things itself, [is] never able {year by year} by means of the same sacrifices which they offer without interruption to make perfect those who draw near.

"This [is] the covenant that I will decree for them after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

[by the] new and living way which he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh,

but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that is about to consume the adversaries.

For you both sympathized with the prisoners and put up with the seizure of your belongings with joy [because you] knew that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.

For you have need of endurance, in order that [after you] have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

By faith we understand the worlds were created by the word of God, in order that what is seen did not come into existence from what is visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, [because] God approved [him] for his gifts, and through it he still speaks, [although he] is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not experience death, and he was not found, because God took him up. For before his removal, he had been approved {as having been pleasing} to God.

Now without faith [it is] impossible to please [him], for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.

By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, out of reverence constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family, by which he pronounced sentence on the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham, [when he] was called, obeyed to go out to a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

For he was expecting the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder [is] God.

These all died in faith without receiving the promises, but seeing them from a distance and welcoming [them], and admitting that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth.

For those who say such [things] make clear that they are seeking a homeland.

And if they remember that [land] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

But now they aspire to a better [land], that is, a heavenly [one]. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

having reasoned that God [was] able even to raise [him] from the dead, from which he received him back also as a symbol.

By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things that were going to happen.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

Women received back their dead by resurrection. But others were tortured, not accepting release, in order that they might gain a better resurrection.

[because] God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

Therefore, [since] we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, putting aside every weight and {the sin that so easily ensnares us}, let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary in your souls [and] give up.

For they disciplined [us] for a few days according to what seemed [appropriate] to them, but he [does so] for our benefit, in order that [we] can have a share in his holiness.

and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Take care [that] no one falls short of the grace of God; [that] no one growing up [like] a root of bitterness causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

[that] no one [be] a sexually immoral or totally worldly [person] like Esau, who for one meal traded his own birthright.

For you know that also afterwards, [when he] wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he did not find an occasion for repentance, although he sought it with tears.

For you have not come to something that can be touched, and to a burning fire, and to darkness, and to gloom, and to a whirlwind,

and to the noise of a trumpet, and to the sound of words which those who heard begged [that] not [another] word be spoken to them.

And the spectacle was so terrifying [that] Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling."

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and {to the sprinkled blood} that speaks better than Abel's [does].

Watch out that you do not refuse the one who is speaking! For if those did not escape [when they] refused the one who warned [them] on earth, much less [will] we [escape], [if we] reject the [one who warns] from heaven,

whose voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, saying, "Yet once [more] I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."

Now the [phrase] "yet once [more]" indicates the removal of what is shaken, namely, things that have been created, in order that the things that are not shaken may remain.

Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, in order that he might sanctify the people by his own blood.

For here we do not have a permanent city, but we seek the [city] that is to come.

Therefore through him let us offer up a sacrifice of praise {continually} to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Obey your leaders and submit [to them], for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not [with] groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, [and] want to conduct ourselves commendably in every [way].

And I especially urge [you] to do this, so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Know [that] our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I will see you, if he comes quickly [enough].

[because you] know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

And let endurance have [its] perfect effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

Blessed [is] the person who endures testing, because [when he] is approved he will receive the crown of life that he has promised to those who love him.

[By his] will he gave birth to us through the message of truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

What [is] the benefit, my brothers, if someone says [that he] has faith but does not have works? That faith [is] not able to save him, [is it]?

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder!

But do you want to know, O foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

You see that faith was working together with his works, and by the works the faith was perfected.

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Not many should become teachers, my brothers, [because you] know that we will receive a greater judgment.

And if we put bits in the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.

This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but [is] earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

From where [are] conflicts and from where [are] quarrels among you? [Is it] not from this, from your pleasures that wage war among your members?

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, in order that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.

Adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes [himself] an enemy of God.

Or do you think that in vain the scripture says, "The spirit which he caused to dwell in us desires jealously"?

you who do not know {what will happen tomorrow}, {what your life will be like}. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.

Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Come now, you rich people, weep [and] cry aloud over the miseries that are coming upon you!

Behold, the wages that were held back by you from the workers who reap your fields cry out, and the cries of the reapers have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts.

Brothers, do not complain against one another, in order that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the doors!

Behold, we consider blessed those who have endured. You have heard about the patient endurance of Job, and you saw the outcome from the Lord, that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Now above all, my brothers, do not swear either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no, no, in order that you may not fall under judgment.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much.

he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from the error of his way will save that person's soul from death, and will cover over a great number of sins.

so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to [result in] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you with reference to the same [things] which now have been announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, {things into which} angels desire to look.

Therefore, {when you have prepared your minds for action} [by] being self-controlled, put your hope completely in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

[because you] know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your ancestors not with perishable things like silver or gold,

but with the precious blood of Christ, like [that of] an unblemished and spotless lamb

who through him [are] believing in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

but the word of the Lord endures {forever}." And this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.

like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

if you have tasted that the Lord [is] kind,

Therefore the honor [is] for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe, "The stone that the builders rejected, this one has become {the cornerstone},"

But you [are] a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,

maintaining your good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in [the things] in which they slander you as evildoers, by seeing your good deeds they may glorify God on the day of visitation.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his footsteps,

who himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that [we] may die to sins [and] live to righteousness, by whose wounds you were healed.

In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the conduct of their wives,

Husbands, in the same way live with [your wives] {knowledgeably}, as with the weaker female vessel, showing [them] honor as fellow heirs also of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing [others], because for this [reason] you were called, so that you could inherit a blessing.