| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, | 1Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, |
| 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. | 2instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. |
| 3And this we will do, if God permits. | 3And God permitting, we will do so. |
| 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, | 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
| 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— | 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age |
| 6and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame. | 6and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. |
| 7For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. | 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. |
| 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned. | 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. |
| 9Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. | 9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case--the things that have to do with salvation. |
| 10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so. | 10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. |
| 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. | 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. |
| 12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. | 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. |
| 13When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, | 13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, |
| 14saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” | 14saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." |
| 15And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise. | 15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. |
| 16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. | 16People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. |
| 17So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. | 17Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. |
| 18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged. | 18God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. |
| 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, | 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, |
| 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. | 20where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. |
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