Hebrews 12

1 Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles ^{a12:1 Other mss. read distracts} us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us,ISV — Hebrews 12:1

2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of ^{b12:2 Or instead} the joy set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.ISV — Hebrews 12:2

3 Think about the one who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you may not become tired and give up.ISV — Hebrews 12:3

4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your ^{c12:4 The Gk. lacks the point of shedding your} blood.ISV — Hebrews 12:4

5 You have forgotten the encouragement that is addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not think lightly of the Lord’s ^{d12:5 MT source citation reads LORD} discipline or give up when you are corrected by him.ISV — Hebrews 12:5

6 For the Lord ^{e12:6 MT source citation reads LORD} disciplines the one he loves, and he punishes ^{f12:6 Or whips} every son he accepts.” ^{g12:6 Cf. Prov 3:11-12}ISV — Hebrews 12:6

7 What you endure disciplines you: God is treating you as sons. Is there a son whom his father does not discipline?ISV — Hebrews 12:7

8 Now if you are without any discipline, in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not God’s ^{h12:8 Lit. his} sons.ISV — Hebrews 12:8

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. We should submit even more to the Father of our spirits and live, shouldn’t we?ISV — Hebrews 12:9

10 For a short time they disciplined us as they thought best, but God ^{i12:10 Lit. he} does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness.ISV — Hebrews 12:10

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.ISV — Hebrews 12:11

12 Therefore, strengthen your tired arms and your weak knees,ISV — Hebrews 12:12

13 and straighten the paths of your life, ^{j12:13 Lit. feet} so that your lameness may not become worse, but instead may be healed.ISV — Hebrews 12:13

14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.ISV — Hebrews 12:14

15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled.ISV — Hebrews 12:15

16 No one should be immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.ISV — Hebrews 12:16

17 For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he could not find any opportunity to repent, even though he begged to repent ^{k12:17 Lit. begged for it} with tears.ISV — Hebrews 12:17

18 You have not come to something ^{l12:18 Other mss. read to a mountain} that can be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom,ISV — Hebrews 12:18

19 to a trumpet’s blast, or to a voice that made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.ISV — Hebrews 12:19

20 For they could not endure the command that was given: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” ^{m12:20 Cf. Exod 19:12-13}ISV — Hebrews 12:20

21 Indeed, the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” ^{n12:21 Cf. Deut 9:19}ISV — Hebrews 12:21

22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, to tens of thousands of angels joyfully gathered together,ISV — Hebrews 12:22

23 to the assembly ^{o12:23 Or church} of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to a judge who is the God of all, to the spirits of righteous people who have been made perfect,ISV — Hebrews 12:23

24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel’s.ISV — Hebrews 12:24

25 See to it that you do not ignore the one who is speaking. For if the hearers ^{p12:25 Lit. if they} did not escape when they ignored the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape ^{q12:25 The Gk. lacks escape} if we turn away from the one who is from heaven!ISV — Hebrews 12:25

26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven.” ^{r12:26 Cf. Hag 2:6}ISV — Hebrews 12:26

27 The expression “once more” ^{s12:27 Cf. Hag 2:6} signifies the removal of what can be shaken, that is, what he has made, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.ISV — Hebrews 12:27

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and worship God in reverence and fear in a way that pleases him.ISV — Hebrews 12:28

29 For “our God is an all-consuming fire.” ^{t12:29 Cf. Deut 4:24}ISV — Hebrews 12:29