Hebrews10-13 NWT(2013 Edition)

10 For since the Law has a shadow+ of the good things to come,+ but not the very substance of the things, it* can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make those who approach perfect.+ 2 Otherwise, would not the sacrifices have stopped being offered, because those rendering sacred service once cleansed would have no consciousness of sins anymore? 3 On the contrary, these sacrifices are a reminder of sins year after year,+ 4 for it is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take sins away.

5 So when he comes into the world, he says: “‘Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but you prepared a body for me. 6 You did not approve of whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.’+ 7 Then I said: ‘Look! I have come (in the scroll* it is written about me) to do your will, O God.’”+ 8 After first saying: “You did not want nor did you approve of sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin offerings”—sacrifices that are offered according to the Law— 9 then he says: “Look! I have come to do your will.”+ He does away with what is first in order to establish what is second. 10 By this “will”+ we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.+

11 Also, every priest takes his station day after day to offer holy service*+ and to make the same sacrifices often,+ which can never take sins away completely.+ 12 But this man offered one sacrifice for sins for all time and sat down at the right hand of God,+ 13 from then on waiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.+ 14 For it is by one sacrificial offering that he has made those who are being sanctified perfect+ for all time. 15 Moreover, the holy spirit also bears witness to us, for after it has said: 16 “‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says Jehovah.* ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.’”+ 17 Then it says: “And I will no longer call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind.”+ 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness* for the way of entry into the holy place+ by the blood of Jesus, 20 which he opened up* for us as a new and living way through the curtain,+ that is, his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,+ 22 let us approach with sincere hearts and complete faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from a wicked conscience+ and our bodies bathed with clean water.+ 23 Let us hold firmly the public declaration of our hope without wavering,+ for the one who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider* one another so as to incite* to love and fine works,+ 25 not forsaking our meeting together,+ as some have the custom, but encouraging one another,+ and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.+

26 For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth,+ there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left,+ 27 but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a burning indignation that is going to consume those in opposition.+ 28 Anyone who has disregarded the Law of Moses dies without compassion on the testimony of two or three.+ 29 How much greater punishment do you think a person will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God and who has regarded as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant+ by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit of undeserved kindness with contempt?+ 30 For we know the One who said: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again: “Jehovah* will judge his people.”+ 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 However, keep remembering the former days in which, after you were enlightened,+ you endured a great struggle along with sufferings. 33 At times you were publicly exposed* both to reproaches and to tribulations, and at times you shared* with those who were having such an experience. 34 For you expressed sympathy for those in prison and you accepted joyfully the plundering of your belongings,+ knowing that you yourselves have a better and an enduring possession.+

35 Therefore, do not throw away your boldness,* which will be richly rewarded.+ 36 For you need endurance,+ so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the fulfillment of the promise. 37 For yet “a very little while,”+ and “the one who is coming will arrive and will not delay.”+ 38 “But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,”+ and “if he shrinks back, I have* no pleasure in him.”+ 39 Now we are not the sort who shrink back to destruction,+ but the sort who have faith for the preserving of our lives.*

 

11 Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for,+ the evident demonstration* of realities that are not seen. 2 For by means of it, the men of ancient times* had witness borne to them.

3 By faith we perceive that the systems of things* were put in order by God’s word, so that what is seen has come into existence from things that are not visible.

4 By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than that of Cain,+ and through that faith he received the witness that he was righteous, for God approved* his gifts,+ and although he died, he still speaks+ through his faith.

5 By faith E′noch+ was transferred so as not to see death, and he was nowhere to be found because God had transferred him;+ for before he was transferred he received the witness that he had pleased God well. 6 Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is* and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.+

7 By faith Noah,+ after receiving divine warning of things not yet seen,+ showed godly fear and constructed an ark+ for the saving of his household; and through this faith he condemned the world,+ and he became an heir of the righteousness that results from faith.

8 By faith Abraham,+ when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, although not knowing where he was going.+ 9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the land of the promise as in a foreign land,+ living in tents+ with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the very same promise.+ 10 For he was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer* and builder is God.+

11 By faith also Sarah received power to conceive offspring,* even when she was past the age,+ since she considered Him faithful* who made the promise. 12 For this reason, from one man who was as good as dead,+ there were born children,+ as many as the stars of heaven in number and as innumerable as the sands by the seaside.+

13 In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises;+ but they saw them from a distance+ and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land. 14 For those who speak in such a way make it evident that they are earnestly seeking a place of their own. 15 And yet, if they had kept remembering the place from which they had departed,+ they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called on as their God,+ for he has prepared a city for them.+

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested,+ as good as offered up Isaac—the man who had gladly received the promises attempted to offer up his only-begotten son+— 18 although it had been said to him: “What will be called your offspring* will be through Isaac.”+ 19 But he reasoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, and he did receive him from there in an illustrative way.+

20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob+ and E′sau+ concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when about to die,+ blessed each of the sons of Joseph+ and worshipped while leaning on the top of his staff.+

22 By faith Joseph, nearing his end, spoke of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and he gave instructions* concerning his bones.*+

23 By faith Moses was hid by his parents for three months after his birth,+ because they saw that the young child was beautiful+ and they did not fear the order of the king.+ 24 By faith Moses, when grown up,+ refused to be called the son of Phar′aoh’s daughter,+ 25 choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin, 26 because he considered the reproach of the Christ to be riches greater than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked intently toward the payment of the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt,+ but not fearing the anger of the king,+ for he continued steadfast as seeing the One who is invisible.+ 28 By faith he observed the Passover and the splashing of the blood, so that the destroyer might not harm* their firstborn.+

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land,+ but when the Egyptians attempted it, they were swallowed up.+

30 By faith the walls of Jer′i·cho fell down after the people had marched around them for seven days.+ 31 By faith Ra′hab the prostitute did not perish with those who acted disobediently, because she received the spies in a peaceable way.+

32 And what more will I say? For time will fail me if I go on to relate about Gid′e·on,+ Ba′rak,+ Samson,+ Jeph′thah,+ David,+ as well as Samuel+ and the other prophets. 33 Through faith they defeated kingdoms,+ brought about righteousness, obtained promises,+ stopped the mouths of lions,+ 34 quenched the force of fire,+ escaped the edge of the sword,+ from a weak state were made powerful,+ became mighty in war,+ routed invading armies.+ 35 Women received their dead by resurrection,+ but other men were tortured because they would not accept release by some ransom, in order that they might attain a better resurrection. 36 Yes, others received their trial by mockings and scourgings, indeed, more than that, by chains+ and prisons.+ 37 They were stoned,+ they were tried, they were sawn in two,* they were slaughtered by the sword,+ they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins,+ while they were in need, in tribulation,+ mistreated;+ 38 and the world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and mountains and caves+ and dens of the earth.

39 And yet all of these, although they received a favorable witness because of their faith, did not obtain the fulfillment of the promise, 40 because God had foreseen something better for us,+ so that they might not be made perfect apart from us.

 

12 So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us,+ and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,+ 2 as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus.+ For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake,* despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.+ 3 Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such hostile speech from sinners+ against their own interests, so that you may not get tired and give up.*+

4 In your struggle against that sin, you have never yet resisted to the point of having your blood shed. 5 And you have entirely forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not belittle the discipline from Jehovah,* nor give up when you are corrected by him; 6 for those whom Jehovah* loves he disciplines, in fact, he scourges* everyone whom he receives as a son.”+

7 You need to endure as part of your discipline.* God is treating you as sons.+ For what son is not disciplined by his father?+ 8 But if you have not all shared in receiving this discipline, you are really illegitimate children, and not sons. 9 Furthermore, our human fathers* used to discipline us, and we gave them respect. Should we not more readily submit ourselves to the Father of our spiritual life and live?+ 10 For they disciplined us for a short time according to what seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit so that we may partake of his holiness.+ 11 True, no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but it is painful;* yet afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,+ 13 and keep making straight paths for your feet,+ so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but, rather, may be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people+ and the sanctification*+ without which no man will see the Lord. 15 Carefully watch that no one fails to obtain the undeserved kindness of God, so that no poisonous root springs up to cause trouble and many are defiled by it;+ 16 and watch that among you there is no one who is sexually immoral* nor anyone who does not appreciate sacred things, like E′sau, who gave up his rights as firstborn in exchange for one meal.+ 17 For you know that afterward when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for although he earnestly tried to bring about a change of mind* with tears,+ it was to no avail.*

18 For you have not approached something that can be felt+ and that has been set aflame with fire,+ and a dark cloud and thick darkness and a storm,+ 19 and the blast of a trumpet+ and the voice speaking words,+ which on hearing, the people begged that nothing further should be spoken to them.+ 20 For they could not bear the command: “If even a beast touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”+ 21 Also, the display was so terrifying that Moses said: “I am afraid and trembling.”+ 22 But you have approached a Mount Zion+ and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem,+ and myriads* of angels 23 in general assembly,+ and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all,+ and the spiritual lives+ of righteous ones who have been made perfect,+ 24 and Jesus the mediator+ of a new covenant,+ and the sprinkled blood, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood.+

25 See that you do not refuse to listen to* the one who is speaking. For if those who refused to listen to the one giving divine warning on earth did not escape, how much more will we not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from the heavens!+ 26 At that time his voice shook the earth,+ but now he has promised: “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.”+ 27 Now the expression “yet once more” indicates the removal of the things that are shaken, things that have been made, in order that the things not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, seeing that we are to receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us continue to receive undeserved kindness, through which we may acceptably offer God sacred service with godly fear and awe. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.+

 

13 Let your brotherly love continue.+ 2 Do not forget hospitality,*+ for through it some unknowingly entertained angels.+ 3 Keep in mind those in prison,*+ as though you were imprisoned with them,+ and those being mistreated, since you yourselves also are in the body.* 4 Let marriage be honorable among all, and let the marriage bed be without defilement,+ for God will judge sexually immoral people* and adulterers.+ 5 Let your way of life be free of the love of money,+ while you are content with the present things.+ For he has said: “I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.”+ 6 So that we may be of good courage and say: “Jehovah* is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”+

7 Remember those who are taking the lead among you,+ who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out, imitate their faith.+

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.

9 Do not be led astray by various and strange teachings, for it is better for the heart to be strengthened by undeserved kindness than by foods,* which do not benefit those occupied with them.+

10 We have an altar from which those who offer sacred service at the tent have no authority to eat.+ 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is taken into the holy place as a sin offering by the high priest are burned up outside the camp.+ 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate+ in order to sanctify the people with his own blood.+ 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach he bore,+ 14 for we do not have here a city that remains, but we are earnestly seeking the one to come.+ 15 Through him let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise,+ that is, the fruit of our lips+ that make public declaration to his name.+ 16 Moreover, do not forget to do good and to share what you have with others,+ for God is well-pleased with such sacrifices.+

17 Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you+ and be submissive,+ for they are keeping watch over you* as those who will render an account,+ so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you.

18 Keep praying for us, for we trust we have an honest* conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.+ 19 But I especially urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd+ of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, with the blood of an everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us through Jesus Christ what is well-pleasing in his sight, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 Now I urge you, brothers, to listen patiently to this word of encouragement, for I have written you a short letter. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, I will be with him when I see you.

24 Give my greetings to all those who are taking the lead among you and to all the holy ones. Those in Italy+ send you their greetings.

25 The undeserved kindness be with all of you.

 

Hebrews7-9 NWT(2013 Edition)

7 For this Mel·chiz′e·dek, king of Sa′lem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,+2 and Abraham gave* him a tenth of everything. First, his name is translated “King of Righteousness,” and then also king of Sa′lem, that is, “King of Peace.” 3 In being fatherless, motherless, without genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor an end of life, but being made like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.*+

4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham, the family head,* gave a tenth out of the best spoils.+ 5 True, according to the Law, those of the sons of Le′vi+ who receive their priestly office have a commandment to collect tithes from the people,+ that is, from their brothers, even though these are descendants* of Abraham. 6 But this man who did not trace his genealogy from them took tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.+ 7 Now it is undeniable that the lesser one is blessed by the greater. 8 And in the one case, it is men who are dying who receive tithes, but in the other case, it is someone of whom witness is given that he lives.+ 9 And it could be said that even Le′vi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still a future descendant* of his forefather when Mel·chiz′e·dek met him.+

11 If, then, perfection was attainable through the Levitical priesthood+(for it was a feature of the Law that was given to the people), what further need would there be for another priest to arise who is said to be in the manner of Mel·chiz′e·dek+ and not in the manner of Aaron? 12 For since the priesthood is being changed, it becomes necessary to change the Law as well.+ 13 For the man about whom these things are said came from another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.+ 14 For it is clear that our Lord has descended from Judah,+ yet Moses said nothing about priests coming from that tribe.

15 And this becomes even clearer when another priest+ arises who is like Mel·chiz′e·dek,+ 16 who has become such, not by the legal requirement that depends on fleshly descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.+ 17 For it is said in witness of him: “You are a priest forever in the manner of Mel·chiz′e·dek.”+

18 So, then, the former commandment is set aside because it is weak and ineffective.+ 19 For the Law made nothing perfect,+ but the introduction of a better hope+ did, through which we are drawing near to God.+20 Also, inasmuch as this was not done without an oath being sworn21 (for, indeed, there are men who have become priests without a sworn oath, but this one has become so through an oath sworn respecting him by the One who said: “Jehovah* has sworn, and he will not change his mind,*‘You are a priest forever’”),+ 22 Jesus has accordingly become the guarantee* of a better covenant.+ 23 Furthermore, many had to become priests in succession+ because death prevented them from continuing as such, 24 but because he continues alive forever,+ his priesthood has no successors. 25 So he is able also to save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead for them.+

26 For it is fitting for us to have such a high priest who is loyal, innocent, undefiled,+ separated from the sinners, and exalted above the heavens.+27 Unlike those high priests, he does not need to offer up sacrifices daily,+first for his own sins and then for those of the people,+ because he did this once for all time when he offered himself up.+ 28 For the Law appoints as high priests men who have weaknesses,+ but the word of the oath+ sworn after the Law appoints a son, who has been made perfect+ forever.

8 Now this is the main point of what we are saying: We have such a high priest as this,+ and he has sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,+ 2 a minister* of the holy place+ and of the true tent, which Jehovah* set up, and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.+ 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest,+ since there are already men who offer the gifts according to the Law. 5 These men are offering sacred service in a typical representation and a shadow+ of the heavenly things;+ just as Moses, when about to construct the tent, was given the divine command: For He says: “See that you make all things after their pattern that was shown to you in the mountain.”+ 6 But now Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry*because he is also the mediator+ of a correspondingly better covenant,+which has been legally established on better promises.+

7 If that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second.+ 8 For he does find fault with the people when he says: “‘Look! The days are coming,’ says Jehovah,* ‘when I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant. 9 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt,+ because they did not remain in my covenant, so I stopped caring for them,’ says Jehovah.*

10 “‘For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ says Jehovah.* ‘I will put my laws in their mind, and in their hearts I will write them.+ And I will become their God, and they will become my people.+

11 “‘And they will no longer teach each one his fellow citizen and each one his brother, saying: “Know Jehovah!”* For they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful toward their unrighteous deeds, and I will no longer call their sins to mind.’”+

13 In his saying “a new covenant,” he has made the former one obsolete.+ Now what is obsolete and growing old is near to vanishing away.+

 9 For its part, the former covenant used to have legal requirements for sacred service and its holy place+ on earth. 2 For a first tent compartment was constructed, in which were the lampstand+ and the table and the display of the loaves of presentation;*+ and it is called the Holy Place.+3 But behind the second curtain+ was the tent compartment called the Most Holy.+ 4 This had a golden censer+ and the ark of the covenant+completely overlaid with gold,+ in which were the golden jar containing the manna+ and Aaron’s rod that budded+ and the tablets+ of the covenant;5 and above it were the glorious cherubs overshadowing the propitiatory cover.*+ But now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.

6 After these things were constructed this way, the priests enter the first tent compartment regularly to perform the sacred services;+ 7 but the high priest enters alone into the second compartment once a year,+ not without blood,+ which he offers for himself+ and for the sins that the people+ committed in ignorance. 8 Thus the holy spirit makes it clear that the way into the holy place had not yet been revealed while the first tent was standing.+ 9 This tent is an illustration for the present time,+ and according to this arrangement, both gifts and sacrifices are offered.+However, these are not able to make the conscience of the man doing sacred service perfect.+ 10 They have to do only with foods and drinks and various ceremonial washings.*+ They were legal requirements concerning the body+ and were imposed until the appointed time to set things straight.

11 However, when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have already taken place, he passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 He entered into the holy place, not with the blood of goats and of young bulls, but with his own blood,+ once for all time, and obtained an everlasting deliverance* for us.+ 13 For if the blood of goats and of bulls+ and the ashes of a heifer*sprinkled on those who have been defiled sanctifies for the cleansing of the flesh,+ 14 how much more will the blood of the Christ,+ who through an everlasting spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works+ so that we may render sacred service to the living God?+

15 That is why he is a mediator of a new covenant,+ in order that because a death has occurred for their release by ransom+ from the transgressions under the former covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance.+ 16 For where there is a covenant, the death of the human covenanter needs to be established,17 because a covenant is valid at death, since it is not in force as long as the human covenanter is living. 18 Consequently, neither was the former covenant put into effect* without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every commandment of the Law to all the people, he took the blood of the young bulls and of the goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the book* and all the people, 20 saying: “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”+ 21 He likewise sprinkled the tent and all the vessels of the holy service* with the blood.+22 Yes, according to the Law nearly all things are cleansed with blood,+and unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place.+

23 Therefore, it was necessary for the typical representations+ of the things in the heavens to be cleansed by these means,+ but the heavenly things require far better sacrifices. 24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with hands,+ which is a copy of the reality,+ but into heaven itself,+ so that he now appears before* God on our behalf.+ 25 This was not done to offer himself often, as when the high priest enters into the holy place from year to year+ with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, he would have to suffer often from the founding of the world. But now he has manifested himself once for all time at the conclusion of the systems of things* to do away with sin through the sacrifice of himself.+ 27 And just as it is reserved for men to die once for all time, but after this to receive a judgment, 28 so also the Christ was offered once for all time to bear the sins of many;+ and the second time that he appears it will be apart from sin,* and he will be seen by those earnestly looking for him for their salvation.+