| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, | 1Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, |
| 2and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. | 2instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. |
| 3And this we will do if God permits. | 3And God permitting, we will do so. |
| 4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, | 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
| 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, | 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age |
| 6and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. | 6and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. |
| 7For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. | 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. |
| 8But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. | 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. |
| 9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. | 9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case--the things that have to do with salvation. |
| 10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. | 10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. |
| 11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, | 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. |
| 12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. | 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. |
| 13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, | 13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, |
| 14saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” | 14saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." |
| 15And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. | 15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. |
| 16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. | 16People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. |
| 17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, | 17Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. |
| 18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. | 18God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. |
| 19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, | 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, |
| 20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. | 20where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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