New American Standard Bible

New Living Translation

The Believer’s Rest

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.

1

Promised Rest for God’s People

God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.

2

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

2

For this good news — that God has prepared this rest — has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.a

3

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

3

For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,
“In my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest,’”b
even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.

4

For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”;

4

We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.”c

5

and again in this passage, “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.”

5

But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”d

6

Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

6

So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God.

7

He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

7

So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:
“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts.”e

8

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

8

Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come.

9

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

9

So there is a special restf still waiting for the people of God.

10

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

10

For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.

11

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

11

So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

12

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

12

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

13

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

13

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

14

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

14

Christ Is Our High Priest

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

15

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

15

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

16

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

16

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Parallel

New American Standard Bible

New Living Translation

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4