Hebrews 12

1So then, with so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, we too must strip off every burden and the sin that so readily wraps itself around us, and keep running with endurance the race that lies ahead of us,

2keeping our gaze on Jesus, the originator and completer of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay ahead of him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and he has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

3Reflect on the one who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you do not grow tired in your souls and give up.

4In your contest with sin you have not yet held out to the point of bloodshed.

5And you have forgotten the encouraging word addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he corrects you,

6for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he punishes every son he accepts.”

7Bear what you suffer as discipline. God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father?

8But if you go without the discipline that all have shared in, then you are not sons but illegitimate children.

9Furthermore, our human fathers disciplined us, and we showed them respect. Will we not all the more place ourselves under the Father of spirits and live?

10For they disciplined us for a few days according to their own judgment, but he does so for our benefit, so that we may take part in his holiness.

11While it is happening, no discipline seems joyful; it seems painful. Afterward, though, it gives back the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have gone through its training.

12So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees,

13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

14Go after peace with all people, and after the holiness apart from which no one will see the Lord.

15Watch carefully that no one misses out on God’s grace, that no bitter root sprouts up and makes trouble, and that through it many are not defiled.

16Make sure no one is sexually immoral or godless as Esau was, who gave up his rights as firstborn in exchange for one meal.

17For you know that later on, when he wanted to receive the blessing as his inheritance, he was turned away. He found no room for repentance, even though he searched for it with tears.

18For you have not drawn near to what can be felt with the hands, to fire that burns, to darkness, gloom, and whirlwind,

19to the sound of a trumpet and to a voice speaking words, a voice whose hearers begged that nothing more be said to them.

20For they could not stand what had been ordered: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

21So fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

22Instead, you have drawn near to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels

23gathered in celebration, to the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of righteous people brought to perfection,

24to Jesus, who mediates a new covenant, and to sprinkled blood that speaks of better things than Abel’s blood does.

25Be careful not to refuse the one who speaks. For if those people did not escape when they refused the one who gave them warning on earth, we certainly will not escape if we turn our backs on the one who warns from heaven.

26Back then his voice made the earth shake, but now he has made a promise: “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven.”

27The phrase “once more” points to the removing of the things that are shaken, since they are made things, so that the things that are not shaken will remain.

28So, as we receive an unshakable kingdom, let us be grateful, and through this gratitude let us offer God worship that pleases him, with reverence and awe,

29for our God is a consuming fire.