1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside everything that hinders us, and the sin which so easily entangles us; and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2Looking to (focusing on) Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Think of all the hostility and cruelty He endured from the very sinners that He had come to offer salvation to. When you reflect upon that, you will not grow weary and discouraged by what you endure.

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as a Father to His children - “My child, do not take lightly the discipline you receive from the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are reprimanded by Him; 6For the Lord chastens those whom He loves, and disciplines every child He accepts and calls His Own.” 7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with His children; for what child is it that the father does not correct? 8But if you are not given correction and discipline, in which we all share, then are you bastards, and not His legitimate children. 9We have all had earthly (human) fathers who corrected us, and we gave them respect. Shall we not much more submit to the Father of spirits, and live forever? 10For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our own true good - that we might share in His holiness. 11Now no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful; but afterward it yields its fruit - righteousness and peace - to those who are trained and corrected by it.

12Therefore, buck up your drooping hands and weak knees. 13Mark out a straight (level) path for your feet (Prov.4:25-27), so that those that are weak or lame (in their faith) will not be hindered; but rather be healed (strengthened). 14Seek (make every effort for) peace with all people, and to be holy, for without holiness, no one shall see the Lord. 15Look after each other diligently, so that none of you falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to trouble you, and corrupts many; 16See to it that none among you is sexually promiscuous, or profane, like Esau, who for just one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit his father’s blessing, he was rejected; even though he tearfully begged for it.

18For you have not come to a physical mountain that can be touched, and that burns with fire, nor to blackness, darkness, and tempest (as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai), 19And to the blast of a trumpet, and the voice uttering words, that when they heard it, they begged that the word would not be spoken to them anymore. 20Because they could not endure what was commanded: “If so much as an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” (Ex.19:13). 21And so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” (Deut.9:19). 22But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to a company of innumerable (countless thousands) of angels, 23To the joyful assembly, to the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24And to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of better things - forgiveness, rather than crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.

25See that you do not refuse to listen to Him Who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him that spoke (warned them) on earth, how much less shall we escape, if we turn away from Him Who speaks (warns us) from heaven, 26Whose voice back then shook the earth; but now He has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”(Haggai 2:6). 27And the words, “Yet once more”, signify the removing of all those things that are (can be) shaken - things that are created - so that only those unshakeable things will remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot shaken, let us show our gratitude by worshipping God acceptably - with reverence and awe; 29For our God is a consuming fire.