| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of 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, |
| 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. | 2instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. |
| 3And this will we do, if God permit. | 3And God permitting, we will do so. |
| 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, | 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
| 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, | 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age |
| 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an 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 the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth 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. |
| 8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to 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. |
| 9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. | 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 unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. | 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. |
| 11And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: | 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. |
| 12That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. | 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 promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware 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, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. | 14saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." |
| 15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. | 15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. |
| 16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. | 16People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. |
| 17Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by 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. |
| 18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon 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. |
| 19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; | 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, |
| 20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. | 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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