and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

and yet have fallen away: for they crucify again to themselves the Son of God, and expose him to public infamy.

For God is not unjust, to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have demonstrated in his name, having ministered assistance to the saints, and still ministering.

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

For they indeed of the sons of Levi, who are admitted to priesthood, have an order to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though also sprung from the loins of Abraham.

For the law constitutes men high-priests, though they have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which is since the law, constitutes the Son, unto eternity completely perfect.

NOW the summary of the things spoken is this: we have such an high-priest, who hath taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the heavens;

For every high-priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that this person also have somewhat to offer.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no place sought for a second.

(for in that case he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world:) but now once for all at the consummation of the ages hath he been manifested for the abolishing sin by the sacrifice of himself.

else they would have discontinued to make the offering, because they who performed the service being once made clean, would have had no more sense of sins on their conscience.

For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no more sacrifice for sins remaineth;

For ye have been fellow-sufferers with my bonds, and received with joy the plundering of your properties, knowing in yourselves that you have in the heavens a better substance, and permanent.

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

"The just man then will live by faith;" and if he draw back, my soul shall have no delight in him.

By faith Enoch was translated, so as not to see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he was recorded to have been acceptable to God.

And if indeed they had fixed their minds on that from whence they had gone forth, they might have had opportunity to go back to it again.

choosing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to have a temporary fruition of sin;

THEREFORE also seeing we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and that most easily besetting sin, let us run with patience the race lying before us,

As yet ye have not resisted unto blood, struggling against sin.

And have you forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you, as children, "My son, count not lightly of the Lord's childlike correction, nor faint when under his rebuke:

If then we have had the fathers of our flesh for correctors, and reverenced them; shall we not much more be under subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

Now all correction at the moment seemeth not to be cause for joy, but for sorrow; but after a while it produceth peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have thereby been disciplined.

For ye have not approached the mountain that could only be groped for, and that burned with fire, and the thick cloud, and the darkness, and the tempest,

Forget not to exercise hospitality: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Remember your presidents, who have spoken to you the word of God: the ultimate issue of whose conduct attentively observing, be imitators of their fidelity.

Be not tossed about by various and strange doctrines: for it is good to have the heart firmly established by grace, not by meats, in which observances they who have walked have found no manner of advantage.

We have an altar, of which they have no right to eat, who perform the service in the tabernacle.

For we have not here an abiding city, but we earnestly seek that which is to come.

Pray for us: for we have confidence that we maintain a good conscience, in all things desirous to conduct ourselves with propriety.??19 But I entreat you the rather to do this, that I may the more speedily be restored to you.

But I entreat you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation; for I have written to you in few words.

But let patience have its work perfected, that ye may be perfect and complete, deficient in nothing.

but ye have put contempt on the poor man? Do not the rich men tyrannize over you? and they drag you to the tribunals.

but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

What is the advantage, my brethren, if a man profess to have faith, but hath not works; can faith save him?

Perhaps a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith by thy works, and I will shew thee by my works my faith.

But if ye have bitter envy and contention in your heart, boast not, and lie not against the truth.

Ye eagerly covet, yet have not: ye murder, and are envious, yet cannot obtain [your object]; ye wage war, but have not, because ye pray not.

Your gold and silver is cankered with rust; and the rust upon them is a testimony against you, and shall eat into your flesh as fire. Ye have heaped up treasures in the last days.

Behold, the wages of the workmen who have mowed down your fields, which is kept back by you from them, crieth out: and the loud moans of the reapers are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

Ye have gormandized upon the earth, and lived in every luxury: ye have pampered your hearts, as in a day of feasting on the victim slain.

Ye have falsely condemned, ye have murdered the just man; nor doth he resist you.

My brethren, take a pattern for suffering affliction, and patience from the prophets, who have spoken to you in the name of the Lord.

Behold, we esteem those blessed who patiently endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; for the Lord is full of bowels of mercy, and tenderly compassionate.

Brethren, if any man among you should have erred from the truth, and one convert him;

whom though ye have not seen, ye love; on whom, though ye have not as yet gazed, yet believing, ye exult with joy unutterable and glorious:

To whom it was revealed, that not for themselves, but for us were their ministrations employed in the things which are now declared unto you by those who have preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; on which things the angels bending forwards eagerly desire to gaze.

knowing that ye have not been redeemed out of your vain manner of life, derived traditionally from your fathers, by the corruptible things, silver and gold,

if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

For hereunto have ye been called, because Christ also hath suffered for you, leaving you a pattern, that ye should follow his steps;

not returning evil for evil, or railing for railing; but, contrariwise, wishing men every blessing; knowing that hereunto ye have been called, that ye should inherit the [divine] benediction.

For the time past of life is enough for us to have wrought the will of the heathen, when we walked in all impurities, lewd appetites, excess of wine, revels, drinking-bouts, and abominable idolatries;

But above all things have fervent love towards each other: for love will conceal a multitude of faults.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, when ye have suffered a little while, himself perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I think, I have written to you a few words, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye are standing fast.

SIMON Peter, the servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained with us the same precious faith by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:

I will endeavour then that even after my decease, ye may always have wherewith to preserve the remembrance of these things.

For we have not followed artfully devised fables, when we made known to you the power and advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty.

For it had been better for them never to have been acquainted with the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to have turned aside from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

to remember the words, that have been spoken aforetime by the holy prophets, and the injunction of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

The Lord doth not delay the promise (as some count it delay); but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should have space for repentance.

THAT which was from the beginning, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have gazed upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life;

(for the life was manifested, and we have beheld it, and bear testimony, and declare unto you that life eternal, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;)

that which we have seen and heard, declare we to you, that ye also may have communion with us: and indeed our communion is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

And this is the promise which we have heard from him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and that darkness in him there is none.

If we say that we have communion with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and practise not the truth:

but if we walk in the light, as he is himself in the light, we have communion with each other, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

MY dear children, these things I write to you, that ye should not sin. And if any of us sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Brethren, I write not a new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him, who is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

My dear children, it is the last hour; and as ye have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there are many antichrists: by which we know it is the last hour.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they departed, that they might be made manifest that they are not all of us:

though ye have an unction from the Holy One, and know all things.

I have not written to you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Let that abide in you therefore which ye have heard from the beginning. If that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning, ye also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.

These things have I written unto you concerning those who are leading you astray.

But the unction which ye have received from him abideth in you; and ye need not that any person should instruct you. But as the same unction teacheth you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie; and as it hath taught you, abide in him.

And now, my dear children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be put to shame by him at his coming.

For this is the commandment which ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

By this we have known the love [of Christ], because for us he laid down his own life: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

and hereby we know that we are of the truth, and in his presence have this persuasion in our hearts.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence towards God.

And every spirit who confesseth not that Jesus the Messiah is come into the world, is not from God: and this is that spirit of antichrist which ye have heard that it is coming, and now is already in the world.

Ye are of God, my dear children, and have overcome them; because he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world.

By this was the love of God manifested to us, that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might have life by him.

Herein is love, not that we have loved God, but that he hath loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiatory sacrifice for our sins.

And we have seen and bear testimony, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

And we have known and believed the love which God hath towards us. God is love; and he that abideth in love, abideth in God, and God in him.

By this is his love towards us perfected, that we might have confidence at the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world.

So this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love also his brother.

These things have I written to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have life eternal, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

And this is the confidence that we have towards him, that whatsoever we ask according to his will, he heareth us.

And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we receive the petitions, which we have requested, from him.

THE presbyter to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all who have known the truth:

I rejoiced greatly that I found thy children walking in truth, as we have received commandment from the Father.

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing to thee a new commandment, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we should love one another.

And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, as ye have heard from the beginning, That ye should walk in it.