Hebrews Chapter 12

2 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

3 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

4 For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it.

5 For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.

6 Wherefore even the first

7 covenant hath not been dedicated without blood.

8 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

9 saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward.

10 Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood.

11 And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.

12 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

13 For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:

14 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own;

15 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

16 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this

17 cometh judgment;

18 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.

19 For the law having a shadow of the good

20 things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.

21 Else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

22 But in those

23 sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by year.

24 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

25 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith,

26 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not,

27 But a body didst thou prepare for me;

28 In whole burnt offerings and

29 sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure:

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 Let us also therefore, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and sin which so easily entangles us, run with endurance the race that lies before us,

2 looking stedfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith: who, in view of the joy lying before him, endured [the] cross, having despised [the] shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne ofGod.

3 For consider well him who endured so great contradiction from sinners against himself, that ye be not weary, fainting in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, wrestling against sin.

5 And ye have quite forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, despise not [the] chastening of [the] Lord, nor faint [when] reproved by him;

6 for whom [the] Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.

7 Ye endure for chastening,God conducts himself towards you as towards sons; for who is the son that the father chastens not?

8 But if ye are without chastening, of which all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Moreover we have had the fathers of our flesh as chasteners, and we reverenced [them]; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they indeed chastened for a few days, as seemed good to them; but he for profit, in order to the partaking of his holiness.

11 But no chastening at the time seems to be [matter] of joy, but of grief; but afterwards yields [the] peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the failing knees;

13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned aside; but that rather it may be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord:

15 watching lest [there be] any one who lacks the grace ofGod; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and many be defiled by it;

16 lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright;

17 for ye know that also afterwards, desiring to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, (for he found no place for repentance) although he sought it earnestly with tears.

18 For ye have not come to [the mount] that might be touched and was all on fire, and to obscurity, and darkness, and tempest,

19 and trumpet's sound, and voice of words; which they that heard, excusing themselves, declined [the] word being addressed to them any more:

20 (for they were not able to bear what was enjoined: And if a beast should touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;

21 and, so fearful was the sight, Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and full of trembling;)

22 but ye have come to mount Zion; and to [the] city of [the] livingGod, heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads of angels,

23 the universal gathering; and to [the] assembly of the firstborn [who are] registered in heaven; and toGod, judge of all; and to [the] spirits of just [men] made perfect;

24 and to Jesus, mediator of a new covenant; and to [the] blood of sprinkling, speaking better than Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if those did not escape who had refused him who uttered the oracles on earth, much more we who turn away from him [who does so] from heaven:

26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, Yet once will I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.

27 But this Yet once, signifies the removing of what is shaken, as being made, that what is not shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore let us, receiving a kingdom not to be shaken, have grace, by which let us serveGod acceptably with reverence and fear.

29 For also ourGod [is] a consuming fire.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Ideoque et nos tantam habentes impositam nubem testium, deponentes omne pondus, et circumstans nos peccatum, per patientiam curramus ad propositum nobis certamen:

2 aspicientes in Auctorem fidei, et consummatorem Iesum, qui proposito sibi gaudio sustinuit crucem, confusione contempta, atque in dextera sedis Dei sedet.

3 Recogitate enim eum, qui talem sustinuit a peccatoribus adversum semetipsum contradictionem: ut ne fatigemini, animis vestris deficientes.

4 Nondum enim usque ad sanguinem restitistis, adversus peccatum repugnantes:

5 et obliti estis consolationis, quæ vobis tamquam filiis loquitur, dicens: Fili mi, noli negligere disciplinam Domini: neque fatigeris dum ab eo argueris.

6 Quem enim diligit Dominus, castigat: flagellat autem omnem filium, quem recipit.

7 In disciplina perseverate. Tamquam filiis vobis offert se Deus: quis enim filius, quem non corripit pater?

8 Quod si extra disciplinam estis, cuius participes facti sunt omnes: ergo adulteri, et non filii estis.

9 Deinde patres quidem carnis nostræ, eruditores habuimus, et reverebamur eos. non multo magis obtemperabimus Patri spirituum, et vivemus?

10 Et illi quidem in tempore paucorum dierum, secundum voluntatem suam erudiebant nos: hic autem ad id, quod utile est in recipiendo sanctificationem eius.

11 Omnis autem disciplina in præsenti quidem videtur non esse gaudii, sed mœroris: postea autem fructum pacatissimum exercitatis per eam, reddet iustitiæ.

12 Propter quod remissas manus, et soluta genua, erigite,

13 et gressus rectos facite pedibus vestris: ut non claudicans quis erret, magis autem sanetur.

14 Pacem sequimini cum omnibus, et sanctimoniam, sine qua nemo videbit Deum:

15 contemplantes nequis desit gratiæ Dei: nequa radix amaritudinis sursum germinans impediat, et per illam inquinentur multi.

16 Ne quis fornicator, aut profanus ut Esau: qui propter unam escam vendidit primitiva sua:

17 scitote enim quoniam et postea cupiens hereditare benedictionem, reprobatus est: non enim invenit pœnitentiæ locum, quamquam cum lacrymis inquisisset eam.

18 Non enim accessistis ad tractabilem montem, et accensibilem ignem, et turbinem, et caliginem, et procellam,

19 et tubæ sonum, et vocem verborum, quam qui audierunt, excusaverunt se, ne eis fieret verbum.

20 Non enim portabant quod dicebatur: Et si bestia tetigerit montem, lapidabitur.

21 Et ita terribile erat quod videbatur. Moyses dixit: Exterritus sum, et tremebundus.

22 Sed accessistis ad Sion montem, et civitatem Dei viventis, Ierusalem cælestem, et multorum millium Angelorum frequentiam,

23 et Ecclesiam primitivorum, qui conscripti sunt in cælis, et iudicem omnium Deum, et spiritus iustorum perfectorum,

24 et testamenti novi mediatorem Iesum, et sanguinis aspersionem melius loquentem quam Abel.

25 Videte ne recusetis loquentem. Si enim illi non effugerunt, recusantes eum, qui super terram loquebatur: multo magis nos, qui de cælis loquentem nobis avertimus.

26 cuius vox movit terram tunc: nunc autem repromittit, dicens: Adhuc semel: et ego movebo non solum terram, sed et cælum.

27 Quod autem, Adhuc semel, dicit: declarat mobilium translationem tamquam factorum, ut maneant ea, quæ sunt immobilia.

28 Itaque regnum immobile suscipientes, habemus gratiam: per quam serviamus placentes Deo, cum metu et reverentia.

29 Etenim Deus noster ignis consumens est.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.

4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.

5 You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;

6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children.

9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

10 For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

11 All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,

13 and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,

15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and many be defiled by it,

16 lest there be any sexually immoral person or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.

17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.

18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,

19 the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,

20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.

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

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,

23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.

25 See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,

26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”

27 This phrase, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM

1 τοιγαρουν και ημεις τοσουτον εχοντες περικειμενον ημιν νεφος μαρτυρων ογκον αποθεμενοι παντα και την ευπεριστατον αμαρτιαν δι υπομονης τρεχωμεν τον προκειμενον ημιν αγωνα

2 αφορωντες εις τον της πιστεως αρχηγον και τελειωτην ιησουν ος αντι της προκειμενης αυτω χαρας υπεμεινεν σταυρον αισχυνης καταφρονησας εν δεξια τε του θρονου του θεου κεκαθικεν

3 αναλογισασθε γαρ τον τοιαυτην υπομεμενηκοτα υπο των αμαρτωλων εις εαυτους αντιλογιαν ινα μη καμητε ταις ψυχαις υμων εκλυομενοι

4 ουπω μεχρι αιματος αντικατεστητε προς την αμαρτιαν ανταγωνιζομενοι

5 και εκλελησθε της παρακλησεως ητις υμιν ως υιοις διαλεγεται υιε μου μη ολιγωρει παιδειας κυριου μηδε εκλυου υπ αυτου ελεγχομενος

6 ον γαρ αγαπα κυριος παιδευει μαστιγοι δε παντα υιον ον παραδεχεται

7 εις παιδειαν υπομενετε ως υιοις υμιν προσφερεται ο θεος τις γαρ υιος ον ου παιδευει πατηρ

8 ει δε χωρις εστε παιδειας ης μετοχοι γεγονασιν παντες αρα νοθοι και ουχ υιοι εστε

9 ειτα τους μεν της σαρκος ημων πατερας ειχομεν παιδευτας και ενετρεπομεθα ου πολυ μαλλον υποταγησομεθα τω πατρι των πνευματων και ζησομεν

10 οι μεν γαρ προς ολιγας ημερας κατα το δοκουν αυτοις επαιδευον ο δε επι το συμφερον εις το μεταλαβειν της αγιοτητος αυτου

11 πασα μεν παιδεια προς μεν το παρον ου δοκει χαρας ειναι αλλα λυπης υστερον δε καρπον ειρηνικον τοις δι αυτης γεγυμνασμενοις αποδιδωσιν δικαιοσυνης

12 διο τας παρειμενας χειρας και τα παραλελυμενα γονατα ανορθωσατε

13 και τροχιας ορθας ποιειτε τοις ποσιν υμων ινα μη το χωλον εκτραπη ιαθη δε μαλλον

14 ειρηνην διωκετε μετα παντων και τον αγιασμον ου χωρις ουδεις οψεται τον κυριον

15 επισκοπουντες μη τις υστερων απο της χαριτος του θεου μη τις ριζα πικριας ανω φυουσα ενοχλη και δι αυτης μιανθωσιν οι πολλοι

16 μη τις πορνος η βεβηλος ως ησαυ ος αντι βρωσεως μιας απεδετο τα πρωτοτοκια εαυτου

17 ιστε γαρ οτι και μετεπειτα θελων κληρονομησαι την ευλογιαν απεδοκιμασθη μετανοιας γαρ τοπον ουχ ευρεν καιπερ μετα δακρυων εκζητησας αυτην

18 ου γαρ προσεληλυθατε ψηλαφωμενω και κεκαυμενω πυρι και γνοφω και ζοφω και θυελλη

19 και σαλπιγγος ηχω και φωνη ρηματων ης οι ακουσαντες παρητησαντο προστεθηναι αυτοις λογον

20 ουκ εφερον γαρ το διαστελλομενον καν θηριον θιγη του ορους λιθοβοληθησεται

21 και ουτως φοβερον ην το φανταζομενον μωυσης ειπεν εκφοβος ειμι και εντρομος

22 αλλα προσεληλυθατε σιων ορει και πολει θεου ζωντος ιερουσαλημ επουρανιω και μυριασιν αγγελων

23 πανηγυρει και εκκλησια πρωτοτοκων απογεγραμμενων εν ουρανοις και κριτη θεω παντων και πνευμασιν δικαιων τετελειωμενων

24 και διαθηκης νεας μεσιτη ιησου και αιματι ραντισμου κρειττον λαλουντι παρα τον αβελ

25 βλεπετε μη παραιτησησθε τον λαλουντα ει γαρ εκεινοι ουκ εξεφυγον επι γης παραιτησαμενοι τον χρηματιζοντα πολυ μαλλον ημεις οι τον απ ουρανων αποστρεφομενοι

26 ου η φωνη την γην εσαλευσεν τοτε νυν δε επηγγελται λεγων ετι απαξ εγω σεισω ου μονον την γην αλλα και τον ουρανον

27 το δε ετι απαξ δηλοι [την] των σαλευομενων μεταθεσιν ως πεποιημενων ινα μεινη τα μη σαλευομενα

28 διο βασιλειαν ασαλευτον παραλαμβανοντες εχωμεν χαριν δι ης λατρευωμεν ευαρεστως τω θεω μετα ευλαβειας και δεους

29 και γαρ ο θεος ημων πυρ καταναλισκον

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 Therefore, we also having so great a cloud of witnesses set around us, every weight having put off, and the closely besetting sin, through endurance may we run the contest that is set before us,

2 looking to the author and perfecter of faith--Jesus, who, over-against the joy set before him--did endure a cross, shame having despised, on the right hand also of the throne of God did sit down;

3 for consider again him who endured such gainsaying from the sinners to himself, that ye may not be wearied in your souls--being faint.

4 Not yet unto blood did ye resist--with the sin striving;

5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation that doth speak fully with you as with sons, `My son, be not despising chastening of the Lord, nor be faint, being reproved by Him,

6 for whom the Lord doth love He doth chasten, and He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;'

7 if chastening ye endure, as to sons God beareth Himself to you, for who is a son whom a father doth not chasten?

8 and if ye are apart from chastening, of which all have become partakers, then bastards are ye, and not sons.

9 Then, indeed, fathers of our flesh we have had, chastising <FI>us<Fi> , and we were reverencing <FI>them<Fi> ; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of the spirits, and live?

10 for they, indeed, for a few days, according to what seemed good to them, were chastening, but He for profit, to be partakers of His separation;

11 and all chastening for the present, indeed, doth not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow, yet afterward the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those exercised through it--it doth yield.

12 Wherefore, the hanging-down hands and the loosened knees set ye up;

13 and straight paths make for your feet, that that which is lame may not be turned aside, but rather be healed;

14 peace pursue with all, and the separation, apart from which no one shall see the Lord,

15 looking diligently over lest any one be failing of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up may give trouble, and through this many may be defiled;

16 lest any one be a fornicator, or a profane person, as Esau, who in exchange for one morsel of food did sell his birthright,

17 for ye know that also afterwards, wishing to inherit the blessing, he was disapproved of, for a place of reformation he found not, though with tears having sought it.

18 For ye came not near to the mount touched and scorched with fire, and to blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 and a sound of a trumpet, and a voice of sayings, which those having heard did entreat that a word might not be added to them,

20 for they were not bearing that which is commanded, `And if a beast may touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or with an arrow shot through,'

21 and, (so terrible was the sight,) Moses said, `I am fearful exceedingly, and trembling.'

22 But, ye came to Mount Zion, and to a city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of messengers,

23 to the company and assembly of the first-born in heaven enrolled, and to God the judge of all, and to spirits of righteous men made perfect,

24 and to a mediator of a new covenant--Jesus, and to blood of sprinkling, speaking better things than that of Abel!

25 See, may ye not refuse him who is speaking, for if those did not escape who refused him who upon earth was divinely speaking--much less we who do turn away from him who <FI>speaketh<Fi> from heaven,

26 whose voice the earth shook then, and now hath he promised, saying, `Yet once--I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven;'

27 and this--`Yet once' --doth make evident the removal of the things shaken, as of things having been made, that the things not shaken may remain;

28 wherefore, a kingdom that cannot be shaken receiving, may we have grace, through which we may serve God well-pleasingly, with reverence and religious fear;

29 for also our God <FI>is<Fi> a consuming fire.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).