| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. | 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. |
| 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. | 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. |
| 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. | 3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. |
| 4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. | 4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. |
| 5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. | 5And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. |
| 6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” | 6For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” |
| 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? | 7As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? |
| 8If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. | 8If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. |
| 9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? | 9Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? |
| 10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. | 10For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. |
| 11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it. | 11No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. |
| 12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. | 12So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. |
| 13Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. | 13Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. A Call to Listen to God |
| 14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. | 14Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. |
| 15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many. | 15Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. |
| 16See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. | 16Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. |
| 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears. | 17You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears. |
| 18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; | 18You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. |
| 19to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. | 19For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. |
| 20For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” | 20They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” |
| 21The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” | 21Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.” |
| 22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels | 22No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. |
| 23in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, | 23You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. |
| 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. | 24You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. |
| 25See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? | 25Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! |
| 26At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” | 26When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” |
| 27The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. | 27This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. |
| 28Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. | 28Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. |
| 29“For our God is a consuming fire.” | 29For our God is a devouring fire. |
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