| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, | 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. |
| 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. | 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. |
| 3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. | 3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. |
| 4You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. | 4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. |
| 5And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; | 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. |
| 6For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” | 6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” |
| 7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? | 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? |
| 8But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. | 8If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. |
| 9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? | 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? |
| 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. | 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. |
| 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. | 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. |
| 12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, | 12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. |
| 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. | 13Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. |
| 14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: | 14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. |
| 15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; | 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. |
| 16lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. | 16See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. |
| 17For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. | 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. |
| 18For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, | 18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; |
| 19and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. | 19to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. |
| 20(For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” | 20For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” |
| 21And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”) | 21The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” |
| 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, | 22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels |
| 23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, | 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, |
| 24to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. | 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. |
| 25See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, | 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? |
| 26whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also 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.” |
| 27Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. | 27The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. |
| 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. | 28Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. |
| 29For our God is a consuming fire. | 29“For our God is a consuming fire.” |
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