Part 54 (1/2)

THEREFORE, let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding, us, lay aside every weight, and the easily besetting sin, and with patience run the race that is set before us, (2)looking away to the author and finisher of the faith, Jesus; who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of G.o.d. (3)For consider him who has endured such contradiction by sinners against him, that ye become not weary, fainting in your souls.

(4)Not yet did ye resist unto blood, contending against sin; (5)and ye have forgotten the exhortation, which discourses with you as with sons:

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when reproved by him; (6)For whom the Lord loves he chastens, And scourges every son whom he receives.

(7)If ye endure chastening, G.o.d deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chastens not? (8)But if ye are without chastening, of which all have been made partakers, then are ye b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, and not sons.

(9)Furthermore, we had fathers of our flesh, who chastened us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? (10)For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

(11)Now all chastening for the present indeed seems not joyous, but grievous; but afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness, to those who have been exercised thereby.

(12)Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (13)and make straight paths for your feet, that the lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.

(14)Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord; (15)looking diligently, lest any one come short of the grace of G.o.d; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and the many be thereby defiled; (16)lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright. (17)For ye know that he also afterward, when he wished to inherit the blessing, was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought after it with tears.

(18)For ye have not come to a mount that is touched, and burning with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, (19)and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they who heard refused that more should be spoken to them; (20)for they could not bear that which was commanded, Even if a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; (21)and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said: I fear, and tremble. (22)But ye have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living G.o.d, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, (23)to the general a.s.sembly and church of the first-born, who are enrolled in heaven, and to G.o.d the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just ones made perfect; (24)and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better than Abel.

(25)See that ye refuse not him who speaks; for if they did not escape, refusing him who declared the divine will on earth, much more shall not we, who turn away from him who speaks from heaven; (26)whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying: Yet once more I shake, not the earth only, but also heaven. (27)And this, Yet once more, signifies the removing of the things shaken, as of things that have been made, that the things which are not shaken may remain.

(28)Wherefore, receiving a kingdom which can not be shaken, let us have grace whereby we may serve G.o.d acceptably, with reverence and G.o.dly fear; (29)for our G.o.d is a consuming fire.

XIII.

LET brotherly love continue.

(2)Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some entertained angels unawares.

(3)Remember those in bonds, as bound with them; those in adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

(4)Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled[13:4]; but fornicators and adulterers G.o.d will judge.

(5)Let your disposition be without covetousness, and be content with what ye have; for he has said: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6)So that we boldly say:

The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear; What shall man do to me?

(7)Remember those who were your leaders, who spoke to you the word of G.o.d; considering the end of whose manner of life, imitate their faith.

(8)Jesus Christ is yesterday and to-day the same, and forever. (9)Be not carried away with various and strange teachings; for it is good that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which did not profit those who walked therein.

(10)We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle. (11)For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. (12)Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate. (13)So then, let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (14)For here we have not an abiding city, but are seeking for that which is to come.

(15)Through him, therefore, let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to G.o.d continually, that is, the fruit of lips giving thanks to his name.

(16)But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices G.o.d is well pleased.

(17)Obey those who are your leaders, and submit; for they watch for your souls, as those who shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with sighing, for that is unprofitable for you.

(18)Pray for us; for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to deport ourselves well. (19)But I the more earnestly beseech you to do this, that I may the sooner be restored to you.