| International Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teachings about the Messiah, let us continue to be carried along to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead actions, faith toward 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. |
| 4For it is impossible to keep on restoring to repentance time and again people who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have become partners with 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 God's word 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 who have fallen away, as long as they continue to crucify the Son of God to their own detriment by exposing him to public ridicule. | 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 when the ground soaks up rain that often falls on it and continues producing vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated, it receives a blessing from 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. |
| 8However, if it continues to produce thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed, and in the end 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, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case, things that point to 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 so unjust as to forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have ministered to the saints and continue to minister to them. | 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. |
| 11But we want each of you to continue to be diligent to the very end, in order to give full assurance to your hope. | 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, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience. | 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. |
| 13For when God made his promise to Abraham, he swore an oath by himself, since he had no one greater to swear by. | 13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, |
| 14He said, "I will certainly bless you and give you many descendants." | 14saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." |
| 15And so he obtained what he had been promised, because he patiently waited for it. | 15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. |
| 16For people swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all argument. | 16People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. |
| 17In the same way, when God wanted to make the unchangeable character of his purpose perfectly clear to the heirs of his 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. |
| 18so that by these two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to prove false, we who have taken refuge in him might be encouraged to seize the hope set before us. | 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. |
| 19That hope, firm and secure like an anchor for our souls, reaches 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 gone on our behalf, having become a high priest forever according to 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. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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