And [so] we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

{For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us}, just as those also [did], but the message {they heard} did not benefit them, [because they] were not united with those who heard [it] in faith.

Since therefore it remains [for] some to enter into it, and the ones to whom the good news was proclaimed previously did not enter because of disobedience,

again he ordains a certain day, today, speaking by David after so long a time, just as had been said before, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

For if Joshua had caused them to rest, he would not have spoken about another day after these [things].

For we do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who has been tempted in all [things] in the same way, without sin.

Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

And someone does not take for himself the honor, but is called by God, just as Aaron also [was].

Thus also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, but the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you,"

For indeed, [although you] ought to be teachers {by this time}, you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and {you have need of} milk, not solid food.

Therefore, leaving behind the elementary message about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God,

For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them].

in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.

But the one who did not trace [his] descent from them collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

Thus if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood, for on the basis of it the people received the law, what further need [is there] for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not said to be according to the order of Aaron?

who has become [a priest] not according to a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

And by as much as [this was] not without an oath (for these on the one hand {have become priests} without an oath,

but he with an oath by the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You [are] a priest {forever}'"),

who does not {need every day} like the former high priests to offer up sacrifices for his own sins [and] then for the [sins] of the people, because he did this once for all [when he] offered up himself.

a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord set up, not man.

Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, [because there] are those who offer the gifts according to the law,

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

not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took hold of them by my hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I disregarded them, says the Lord.

And they will not teach each one his fellow citizen and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings, and I will not remember their sins [any] longer."

And above it [were] the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, about which it is not now [possible] to speak in detail.

but only the high priest [enters] into the second [tent] once a year, not without blood, which he offers on behalf of himself and the [sins] of the people committed in ignorance.

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,

which [was] a symbol for the present time, in which both the gifts and sacrifices which were offered were not able to perfect the worshiper with respect to the conscience,

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 not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered once for all into the [most] holy place, obtaining eternal redemption.

Therefore not even the first [covenant] was ratified without blood.

For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a [mere] copy of the true [one], but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf,

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.

For otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the ones who worship, having been purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

Therefore, [when he] came into the world, he said, "Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but a body you prepared for me;

you did not delight in whole burnt offerings and [offerings] for sins.

[When he] says above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and [offerings] for sin you did not want, nor did you delight in," which are offered according to the law,

not abandoning {our meeting together}, as [is] the habit of some, but encouraging [each other], and by so much more as you see the day drawing near.

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward.

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

For yet "a very, very little [while], [and] the one who is coming will come and will not delay.

But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul is not well pleased with him."

But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but among those who have faith to the preservation of [our] souls.

Now faith is the realization of what is hoped for, the proof of things not seen.

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 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.

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.

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.

By faith Moses, [when he] was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw the child [was] handsome, and they were not afraid of the edict of the king.

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king, for he persevered as [if he] saw the invisible one.

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

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, [because she] welcomed the spies in peace.

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

of whom the world was not worthy, wandering about on deserts and mountains and in caves and in holes in the ground.

And [although they] all were approved through their faith, they did not receive what was promised,

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

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.

You have not yet resisted to the point of [shedding your] blood [as you] struggle against sin.

And have you completely forgotten the exhortation which instructs you as sons? "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, or give up [when you] are corrected by him.

Endure [it] for discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son [is there] whom a father does not discipline?

But if you are without discipline, in which all [legitimate sons] have become participants, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

Furthermore, we have had {our earthly fathers} who disciplined [us], and we respected [them]. Will we not much rather subject ourselves to the Father of spirits and live?

Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

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

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.

For they could not endure what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."

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.

Do not neglect hospitality, because through this some have received angels as guests without knowing [it].

So then, we can say with confidence, "The Lord [is] my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?"

Do not be carried away by various and strange teachings, for [it is] good [for] the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods by which those who participate have not benefited.

We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle do not have the right to eat.

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

And do not neglect doing good and generosity, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

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.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for [it] from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

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

Do not be deceived, my dear brothers.

for human anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

But be doers of the message and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,

because if anyone is a hearer of the message and not a doer, this one is like someone staring at {his own face} in a mirror,

But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [to do it], not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed {in what he does}.

If anyone thinks he is religious, [although he] does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion [is] worthless.

My brothers, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.

have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

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?

But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich exploiting you and they themselves dragging you into the courts?

Do they themselves not blaspheme the good name {of the one to whom you belong}?

For the one who said "Do not commit adultery" also said "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

For judgment [is] merciless to the one who has not practiced mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

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]?

and one of you should say to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and {eat well}," but does not give them what is necessary for the body, what [is] the benefit?

Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works [when he] offered up his son Isaac on the altar?