Heb 12 | NASB2020 | STEP | Therefore , since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12

Jesus, the Example

1 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s ^arid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s ^brun with ^cendurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the ^{▼▼Or leader
,} ^eoriginator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him ^fendured the cross, ^gdespising the shame, and has ^hsat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For ⁱconsider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^{▼▼Lit fainting in your souls
,} ^kand lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

4 ^lYou have not yet resisted ^{▼▼Lit as far as blood
,} ⁿto the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

“ ^oMy son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor ^pfaint when you are punished by Him;
6 ^q For ^rwhom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He punishes every son whom He accepts.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; ^sGod deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, ^tof which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had ^{▼▼Lit fathers of our flesh}earthly fathers to discipline us, and we ^vrespected them; shall we not much more be subject to ^wthe Father of ^{▼▼Or our spirits}spirits, and ^ylive? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, ^zso that we may share His holiness. 11 ^aaFor the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the ^abpeaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 Therefore, ^{▼▼Lit make straight
,} ^adstrengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and ^aemake straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather ^afbe healed.

14 ^agPursue peace with all people, and the ^ahholiness without which no one will ^aisee the Lord. 15 See to it that no one ^ajcomes short of the grace of God; that no ^akroot of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become ^aldefiled; 16 that there be no ^amsexually immoral or ^angodless person like Esau, ^aowho sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterward, ^apwhen he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

18 ^aqFor you have not come to ^ara mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the ^asblast of a trumpet and the ^atsound of words, which sound was such that those who heard ^aubegged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not ^{▼▼Lit bear}cope with the command, “ ^awIf even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “ ^axI am terrified and trembling.” 22 But ^ayyou have come to Mount Zion and to ^azthe city of ^bathe living God, ^bbthe heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^bcmyriads of ^{▼▼Or angels in festive gathering, and to the church}angels, 23 to the general assembly and ^bechurch of the firstborn who ^bfare enrolled in heaven, and to God, ^bgthe Judge of all, and to the ^bhspirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the ^bimediator of a new covenant, and to the ^bjsprinkled blood, which speaks better than ^bkthe blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

25 ^blSee to it that you do not refuse Him who is ^bmspeaking. For ^bnif those did not escape when they ^borefused him who ^bpwarned them on earth, ^{▼▼Lit much rather we will not escape...}much less will we escape who turn away from Him who ^brwarns us from heaven. 26 And ^bsHis voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “ ^btYet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes ^buthe removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a ^bvkingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s ^{▼▼Lit have}show gratitude, by which we may ^bxoffer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for ^byour God is a consuming fire.