New King James Version

English Standard Version

The Race of Faith

Therefore 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,

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Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2

looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]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.

2

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3

The Discipline of God

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

3

Do Not Grow Weary

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

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You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

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In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

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And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the [c]chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

5

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.

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For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

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For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

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If[d] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

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It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

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But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

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If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

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Furthermore, 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?

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Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

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For 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.

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For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

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Now no [e]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.

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For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

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Renew Your Spiritual Vitality

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

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Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

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and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

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and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

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Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

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Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

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looking 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;

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See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

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lest there be any fornicator or [f]profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.

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that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

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For 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.

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For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

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The Glorious Company

For you have not come [g]to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and [h]darkness and tempest,

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A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest

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and 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.

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and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.

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(For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned [i]or shot with an arrow.”

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For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”

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And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

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Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

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But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

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But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,

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to the [j]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,

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and to the assemblya of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

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to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

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and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

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Hear the Heavenly Voice

See 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,

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See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

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whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I [k]shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

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At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

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Now 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.

27

This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken — that is, things that have been made — in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

28

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we [l]may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

28

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

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For our God is a consuming fire.

29

for our God is a consuming fire.

Parallel

New King James Version

English Standard Version

Hebrews 12

Hebrews 12