| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. | 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, |
| 2You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. | 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. |
| 3And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. | 3And this we will do, if God permits. |
| 4For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and 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 power of the age to come— | 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— |
| 6and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. | 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. |
| 7When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. | 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. |
| 8But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it. | 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned. |
| 9Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. | 9Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. |
| 10For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. | 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. |
| 11Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. | 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. |
| 12Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance. God’s Promises Bring Hope | 12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. |
| 13For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: | 13When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, |
| 14“I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” | 14saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” |
| 15Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. | 15And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise. |
| 16Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. | 16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. |
| 17God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. | 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. |
| 18So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. | 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. |
| 19This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. | 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, |
| 20Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. | 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. |
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