New Living Translation

New King James Version

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.

1

The Promise of Rest

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

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

2

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [a]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

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.

3

For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

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

4

For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;

5

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

5

and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”

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.

6

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,

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

7

again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

8

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

8

For if [b]Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.

9

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

9

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

10

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

10

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

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.

11

The Word Discovers Our Condition

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

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.

12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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.

13

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

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.

14

Our Compassionate High Priest

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15

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

15

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

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.

16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Parallel

New Living Translation

New King James Version

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4