Bible in 90 Days

Chapter 1

Prologue^[a]

The Son of God, Superior to the Angels^[d]

Messianic Enthronement.^[e] For to which of the angels did God ever say,

Or again,

⁶ And again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

⁷ Of the angels he says,

⁸ But of the Son he says,

¹⁰ He also says,

¹³ But to which of the angels has he ever said,

¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Chapter 2

The Oneness of Christian Salvation.^{[g] 1} Therefore, we should pay much closer attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away. ² For if the message delivered by angels proved to be so valid that every transgression and disobedience brought a proper punishment, ³ how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?

It was first announced by the Lord and then confirmed for us by those who heard him. ⁴ God also testified to it by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Christ Our Brother.^{[h] 5} For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But someone has offered this testimony somewhere:

Now in putting everything under his feet, he left nothing that is not subject to his control. Right now we do not yet see everything under his feet. ⁹ However, we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

¹⁰ In bringing many sons to glory, it was completely fitting that he, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ Both the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all proceed from one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children are all made of flesh and blood,^[j] Jesus likewise shared in the same flesh and blood, so that by his death he might destroy the one who has the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and set free those who throughout their lives had been held in slavery by the fear of death.

¹⁶ For clearly he did not come to help angels but rather he came to help the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore, he had to be made like his brethren in every way in order that he might become a compassionate and faithful high priest before God and expiate the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself was tested by suffering, he is able to help those who are being tested.

A High Priest for Humanity^[k]

Chapter 3

Christ’s Fidelity Is Superior to That of Moses.^{[l] 1} Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly calling, concentrate your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and the high priest of our profession of faith. ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in God’s household.

³ However, he is deserving of a greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house is more honored than the house itself. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all is God.

⁵ Now Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s household, testifying to the things that would later be revealed, ⁶ whereas Christ was faithful as a son watching over his house. And we are that house if we hold firm to our confidence and take pride in our hope.

The “Today” of God.^{[m] 7} Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

¹² Take care, brethren, that none of you will ever have an evil and unbelieving heart that will cause you to forsake the living God. ¹³ Rather, encourage each other every day, as long as it is today, so that none of you will become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

¹⁴ For we will become partners with Christ only if we maintain firmly until the end the confidence we originally had, ¹⁵ as it is said,

¹⁶ Who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Were they not all those whom Moses had led out of Egypt? ¹⁷ And with whom was he angered for forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned and whose corpses lay in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did he swear that they would never enter into his rest, if not to those who disobeyed? ¹⁹ So we see clearly that they were unable to enter because of their refusal to believe.

Chapter 4

The Sabbath Rest of God’s People.^{[n] 1} Therefore, since the promise of entering into his rest endures, we must take care that none of you be judged to have fallen short. ² For we too have received the good news just as they did, but the message they heard was of no benefit to them because those who listened did not combine it with faith. ³ For we who have faith enter into that rest, just as God has said:

Yet God’s work had been finished at the beginning of the world. ⁴ For somewhere he says in reference to the seventh day, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” ⁵ And in this passage it says, “They will never enter into my rest.”

⁶ Seeing, therefore, that some will enter into that rest, and since those who first had received the good news failed to enter because of their refusal to believe, ⁷ God once more set a day—“today”—when long afterward he spoke through David, as already quoted:

⁸ Now if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward of another day. ⁹ Therefore, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God, ¹⁰ since those who enter into God’s rest also cease from their own labors as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us then make every effort to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall by following that example of refusing to believe.

¹² The Word of God Is Living.^[o] Indeed, the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it pierces to the point where it divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in creation is hidden from his sight. Everything is uncovered and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must all render an account.

¹⁴ A Compassionate High Priest.^[p] Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession of faith. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every respect as we are, but without sinning. ¹⁶ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace when we are in need of help.

Chapter 5

¹ Every high priest is taken from among men to represent them in their dealings with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.^{[q] 2} He is able to deal patiently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness. ³ And as a result of this, he must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. ⁴ Moreover, one does not assume this position of honor on his own initiative, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

⁵ Even Christ did not confer upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. Rather, he was appointed by the one who said to him:

⁶ And he says in another place:

⁷ During the course of his earthly life, Jesus offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who had the power to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly fear. ⁸ Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings, ⁹ and when he had been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, ¹⁰ and he was designated a high priest by God according to the order of Melchizedek.

Christ, the One True Priest^[r]

Deepen the Christian Life.^[s] We have much to say about this subject, but it is difficult to explain because you have been slow in learning. ¹² By this time you should have been teachers, yet you still need to have someone explain to you the basic elements of God’s words.

You need milk, not solid food. ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk is still an infant and is ignorant of the word of righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for adults whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish between good and evil.

Chapter 6

^1 [t]Therefore, let us leave behind the basic teaching about Christ and advance toward maturity. We must not be forever laying the foundation: repentance for actions that lead to death, faith in God, ² instruction about baptisms and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³ And we will do so, if God permits.

^4 [u]For when people have once been enlightened and have experienced the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then in spite of all this have fallen away, it is impossible to restore them again to repentance. For they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves once again and are holding him up to contempt.

⁷ When the soil drinks in the rain that repeatedly falls on it and produces a crop that is useful to those for whom it was cultivated, it receives a blessing from God. ⁸ However, if it brings forth thorns and thistles, it is worthless, and a curse hangs over it. It will end by being burned.

⁹ But, beloved, in spite of what we have just said, we are convinced that your status is far superior as you proceed to salvation. ¹⁰ For God would not be so unjust as to ignore your work and the love that you have shown for his name by the services you have rendered to the saints and still continue to render.

¹¹ However, we desire that each one of you will show the same diligence until you have achieved the ultimate fulfillment of your hope. ¹² We do not want you to allow yourselves to become sluggish; rather, we want you to become imitators of those who through faith and patience are now heirs of the promises.

¹³ Cling Tightly to Hope.^[v] When God made his promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” ¹⁵ And so, after waiting patiently, he obtained the promise.

¹⁶ Human beings swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath given as confirmation puts an end to all argument. ¹⁷ Likewise, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of his promise the unalterable nature of his purpose, he confirmed it by an oath.

¹⁸ Therefore, by these two unchangeable acts in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge in his protection have been strongly encouraged to grasp firmly the hope that has been held out to us. ¹⁹ We have this hope as the anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the sanctuary behind the veil,^{[w] 20} where Jesus has entered as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

A Different Kind of High Priest^[x]

Chapter 7

Melchizedek.^{[y] 1} This Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, met Abraham as he was returning from his defeat of the kings, and he blessed him. ² Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. His name first means “king of righteousness,” and then “king of Salem,” that is, “king of peace.” ³ Without father, or mother, or genealogy, and without beginning of days or end of life, thus bearing a resemblance to the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

⁴ Just consider now how great this man must have been for the patriarch Abraham to give him a tenth of his spoils. ⁵ The descendants of Levi who succeed to the priestly office are required by the Law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descended from Abraham. ⁶ However, Melchizedek, who was not of the same ancestry, received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises.

⁷ It is indisputable that a lesser person is blessed by one who is greater. ⁸ In the one case, it is ordinary mortal men who receive tithes; in the other, the recipient is one of whom it is attested that he is alive. ⁹ One could even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, actually paid tithes through Abraham, ¹⁰ inasmuch as he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met Abraham.

¹¹ Another High Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek.^[z] If perfection was therefore achieved through the Levitical priesthood, on the basis of which the Law was given to the people, what need would there have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek rather than one according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when there is any change in the priesthood, there must also be a change in the Law.

¹³ Now the one about whom these things were said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is clear that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing in regard to priests.

¹⁵ This becomes even more obvious now that another priest has arisen, one like Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who was one not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is attested of him:

¹⁸ The earlier commandment is abrogated because of its weakness and ineffectiveness, ¹⁹ since the Law brought nothing to perfection. On the other hand, a better hope is introduced through which we draw nearer to God.

²⁰ This was confirmed by an oath. When others became priests, no oath was required, ²¹ but this one became a priest with the swearing of an oath by the one who said to him,

²² Accordingly, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

²³ Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from remaining in office. ²⁴ However, Jesus holds a perpetual priesthood because he remains forever. ²⁵ Therefore, he has the full power to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to intercede for them.

²⁶ The High Priest That We Needed.^[aa] It was fitting that we should have such a high priest—holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and raised high above the heavens. ²⁷ Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people. He accomplished this once for all when he offered himself. ²⁸ The Law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the Law, appointed the Son who has been made perfect forever.

A New Kind of Priesthood^[ab]

Chapter 8

Another Sanctuary.^{[ac] 1} The main point of what we have been saying is this: we have such a high priest. He has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ² and he is a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle established by the Lord and not by human beings.

³ Every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices, and so it is necessary for this one also to have something to offer. ⁴ Actually, if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are already others who offer gifts according to the Law,^{[ad] 5} although the sanctuary in which they offer worship is only a shadow and a reflection of the heavenly one. This is the reason why, when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned, “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

Another Covenant.^{[ae] 6} But Jesus has now received a ministry that is far superior, for he is the mediator of a far better covenant that has been established on better promises. ⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no necessity to establish a second one to replace it. ^8 [af]However, God finds fault with his people, and he says,

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete. And anything that is obsolete and aging will shortly disappear.

Chapter 9

The Ancient Worship.^{[ag] 1} Now the first covenant also had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. ² For a tabernacle was constructed. In the outer section, called the Holy Place, were located the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread.

³ Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies ⁴ in which stood the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold. In that ark were the gold jar containing the manna, and Aaron’s staff that had sprouted buds, and the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement (but we cannot discuss these things in detail now). ⁶ With these arrangements for worship having been made, the priests continually enter the first tabernacle to carry out their ritual duties. ⁷ However, the high priest alone enters the second tabernacle, and he can do so only once a year, and not without the blood that he offers for himself and for the errors that the people had committed.

⁸ By this the Holy Spirit reveals to us that as long as the first tabernacle remains standing, the way into the sanctuary has not been disclosed. ⁹ This is a symbol of the present time, during which the gifts and sacrifices that are offered are unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They deal only with food and drink and various ceremonial washings, regulations in regard to the body that are imposed until the coming of the new order.

¹¹ Christ Has Come.^[ah] But now Christ has arrived as the high priest of the good things that have come. He has passed through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by human hands, that is, not a part of this creation, ¹² and he has entered once for all into the sanctuary not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

¹³ The blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of ashes of a heifer sanctify those who have been defiled and restore bodily purity. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from acts that lead to death so that we may worship the living God.

¹⁵ A Covenant Sealed with the Blood of Christ.^[ai] For this reason, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who have been called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since his death has served to redeem the sins that were committed under the first covenant.

¹⁶ Now when a will is involved, it is obligatory to prove the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷ For a will takes effect only at death, since it has no force while the one who made it is still alive.

¹⁸ Hence, not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. ¹⁹ For when all the commandments of the Law had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, together with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to observe.”

²¹ And in the same way, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the liturgical vessels. ²² Indeed, under the Law almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves required still greater sacrifices.

²⁴ Once and for All.^[aj] For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, so that he now appears in the presence of God on our behalf.

²⁵ Nor was it his purpose to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own. ²⁶ For then he would have had to suffer over and over again since the creation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once and for all at the end of the ages to abolish sin by sacrificing himself.

²⁷ And just as human beings are destined to die but once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Chapter 10

A Unique Sacrifice^[ak]

The Law Was a Shadow. ¹ The Law contains little more than a shadow of the good things to come and not the true image of them. These sacrifices that are offered year after year can never bring the worshipers to perfection. ² If they could, those sacrifices would no longer be offered, for the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all and would no longer feel guilty for sins.

³ However, in these sacrifices sins are brought to mind year after year, ⁴ because sins cannot be taken away by the blood of bulls and goats.

One Sacrifice for Sins. ⁵ That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said,

⁸ First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in,” even though they are offered according to the Law. ⁹ Then he adds, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He thus abolishes the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And it was by this “will” that we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

^11 [al]Day after day every priest stands to perform his ministry, offering over and over again the same sacrifices that can never remove sins. ¹² But Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, and then took his seat at the right hand of God, ¹³ where he now waits until his enemies are made his footstool. ¹⁴ Therefore, by a single offering he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For he first says,

¹⁷ Then he also asserts,

¹⁸ When these have been forgiven, there are no longer any offerings for sins.

Perseverance in Faith^[am]

The Need To Stand Firm

¹⁹ Let Us Approach with Sincerity of Heart.^[an] Therefore, brethren, the blood of Jesus has given us confidence to enter the sanctuary ²⁰ by the new and living way that he has opened for us through the veil, that is, through his flesh. ²¹ Since we have a great priest over the household of God, ²² let us approach with sincerity of heart and the full assurance of faith, with hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and bodies washed in pure water.

²³ Let us remain firm in the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. ²⁴ And let us consider how to spur one another to love and good works. ²⁵ Do not neglect to attend your assemblies, as some do, but rather encourage one another, especially since you can see the Day^[ao] approaching.

²⁶ Apostasy Remains Unforgiven.^[ap] If we deliberately persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, then there no longer remains any sacrifice for sins. ²⁷ There is only a terrifying expectation of judgment and of a fierce fire that will consume the adversaries.

²⁸ Anyone who violates the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more punishment do you think is deserved by the one who has contempt for the Son of God, profanes the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the one who said,

and

³¹ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² Do Not Abandon Your Assurance.^[aq] Remember the days gone by when, after you had been enlightened,^[ar] you endured a difficult struggle filled with suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes you were companions of those who were treated in the same way. ³⁴ You not only had compassion upon those who were in prison but also cheerfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you realized that you possessed something better and more lasting.

³⁵ Therefore, do not lose your confidence now, since your reward will be so great. ³⁶ You need to be steadfast if you want to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.

³⁹ But we are not among those who draw back and are lost. Rather, we are among those who have faith and are saved.

The People of Faith^[as]

Chapter 11

What Faith Is. ¹ Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction about things that cannot be seen.^{[at] 2} Indeed, it was because of it that our ancestors were commended.

³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen came into being from the invisible.

The Faith of the Early Patriarchs.^{[au] 4} By faith Abel^[av] offered to God a better sacrifice than that of Cain. Because of this he was attested as righteous, God himself bearing witness to his gifts. Although he is dead, he continues to speak through it.

⁵ By faith Enoch^[aw] was taken up so that he did not see death. He was found no more, because God had taken him, and before he was taken up he was attested to have pleased God. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

⁷ By faith Noah,^[ax] having been warned by God about things not yet seen, took heed and built an ark to save his household. Through his faith he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that derives from faith.

The Faith of Abraham and His Descendants. ⁸ By faith Abraham^[ay] obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. He went forth without knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to a city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

¹¹ By faith Abraham also received the power of procreation, even though he was well past the age—and Sarah herself was barren^[az]—because he believed that the one who had made the promise would be faithful in fulfilling it. ¹² Therefore, from one man, himself as good as dead, came forth descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand on the seashore.

¹³ All these died in faith without having received what had been promised, but from a distance they saw far ahead how those promises would be fulfilled and welcomed them, and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and foreigners on the earth. ¹⁴ People who speak in this way make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had the opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But in fact they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, ¹⁸ of whom he had been told, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” ¹⁹ For he reasoned that God was able even to raise someone from the dead, and in a sense he was given back Isaac from the dead.^{[ba] 20} By faith Isaac^[bb] gave his blessings to Jacob and Esau for the future.

²¹ By faith Jacob,^[bc] as he was dying, blessed each one of the sons of Joseph and bowed in worship, leaning on his staff.

²² By faith Joseph,^[bd] near the end of his life, mentioned the Exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.

²³ By faith Moses^[be] was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they did not fear the king’s edict.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He preferred to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He considered that abuse suffered for the sake of the Messiah was a more precious gift than all the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the final reward.

²⁷ By faith Moses departed from Egypt, unafraid of the wrath of the king; he persevered as if he could see the one who is invisible.

²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood so that the Destroyer would not harm the firstborn of Israel.

²⁹ The Faith of the Israelites and Rahab. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as though it were dry land. However, when the Egyptians attempted to do so, they were drowned.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho^[bf] fell when the people had marched around them for seven days.

³¹ By faith Rahab^[bg] the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, for she had received the spies in peace.

³² The Faith of the Judges and Prophets. What more shall I say? Time is too short for me to speak of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the Prophets,^{[bh] 33} who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and obtained the promises. They closed the mouths of lions,^{[bi] 34} quenched raging fires,^[bj] and escaped the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned into strength as they became mighty in battle and put foreign armies to flight.

³⁵ Women received their dead^[bk] back through resurrection. Others who were tortured refused to accept release in order to obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Still others were mocked and scourged, even to the point of enduring chains and imprisonment.

³⁷ They were stoned,^[bl] or sawed in two, or put to death by the sword. They went about in skins of sheep or goats—destitute, persecuted, and tormented. ³⁸ The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in desert areas and on mountains, and they lived in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ Yet all these, even though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised. ⁴⁰ For God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to achieve perfection except with us.^[bm]

Let Us Run with Eyes Fixed on Jesus^[bn]

Chapter 12

You Have Not Yet Resisted to the Point of Bloodshed. ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,^[bo] let us throw off everything that weighs us down and the sins that so easily distract us and with perseverance run the race that lies ahead of us, ² with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, ignoring its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ Reflect on how he endured such great hostility from sinners so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. ⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

God Is Treating You as His Children.^{[bp] 5} You have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children:

⁷ Endure the trials you receive as a form of discipline. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there who is not disciplined by his father? ⁸ If you have not received the discipline in which all share, then you are illegitimate and not true sons.

⁹ In addition, we have all received discipline from our earthly fathers, and we respected them. Should we not then be even more willing to submit to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but he does so for our benefit so that we may share his holiness.

¹¹ At the time that discipline is received, it always seems painful rather than pleasant, but afterward it yields a harvest of peace and uprightness to those who have been trained by it. ¹² Therefore, strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that your weakened limbs may not be disabled but rather may be healed.

¹⁴ Seek Peace and Sanctification.^[bq] Seek peace with everyone, as well as the holiness without which no one will ever see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one is deprived of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness may spring up and cause trouble, resulting in the defilement of many.

¹⁶ Do not be like Esau, an immoral and worldly-minded person who sold his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ Afterward, as you know, when he sought to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought it with tears, he found no possibility for repentance.

¹⁸ Listen to the One Who Is Speaking.^[br] You have not come to something that can be touched: a blazing fire, or complete darkness, or gloom, or a storm, ¹⁹ or the sound of a trumpet, or a voice speaking words that made those who heard them beg that nothing more be said to them. ²⁰ For they could not bear to hear the command that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” ²¹ Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses cried out, “I am terrified and trembling.”

²² But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels in joyful gathering, ²³ and to the assembly of the firstborn^[bs] whose names are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect. ²⁴ You have come to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more powerfully than even the blood of Abel.

²⁵ See that you do not reject the one who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they rejected the one who warned them on earth, how much more is this true of us if we turn away from the one who is from heaven? ²⁶ At that time, his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but heaven as well.”

²⁷ The words “once more” indicate the removal of what can be shaken—that is, all created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, offering to God a worship that is pleasing to him. ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.

Conclusion

Chapter 13

Aspects of the Christian Life.^{[bt] 1} Let mutual love continue, ² and do not forget to offer hospitality to strangers, for by doing this some have entertained angels without knowing it.^{[bu] 3} Be mindful of those who are in prison, as though you were imprisoned with them, and of those who are being maltreated, since you too are in the body.

⁴ Let marriage be held in honor by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for those who are immoral and adulterers will have to face God’s judgment. ⁵ Do not succumb to the love of money, but be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” ⁶ Therefore, we can say with confidence:

Let Us Seek the City That Is To Come.^{[bv] 7} Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Keep in mind the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

⁹ Do not be led astray by all kinds of strange doctrines. It is good for us to have our hearts strengthened by grace, and not by ceremonial foods, which have not benefited those who partake of them.

¹⁰ We have an altar^[bw] from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.^{[bx] 12} Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.^[by]

¹³ Let us then go to him outside the camp^[bz] and bear the abuse he endured. ¹⁴ For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is to come. ¹⁵ Through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,^[ca] that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

^16 [cb]Do not neglect to do good works and to share with others what you have, for these are the kind of sacrifices that please God. ¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls and will have to render an account in that regard. Make this a joy for them to do rather than a grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

¹⁸ Pray for us. We are sure that our own conscience is clear, and our desire is to act honorably in everything we do. ¹⁹ I especially ask you to do this that I may be restored to you as soon as possible.

²⁰ Final Doxology.^[cc]May the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant— ²¹ make you perfect in every respect so that you may do his will. And may he enable us to achieve what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² News and Farewell. I urge you, brethren, to listen to my words of exhortation; that is why I have written to you only a short letter. ²³ I want to let you know that our brother Timothy has been set free.^[cd] If he arrives in time, he will be with me when I see you.

²⁴ My greetings to all your leaders and to all the saints.^[ce] Those from Italy send you their greetings as well.

²⁵ Grace be with all of you.

Salutation

Chapter 1

Greeting.^{[cf] 1} James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: greetings.

Exhortation To Practice Patience

Trials—the Test of a Faith in Progress.^{[cg] 2} My brethren, consider it a cause of great joy whenever you endure various trials, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith will develop perseverance. ⁴ And let perseverance complete its work so that you may become perfect and complete, and not be deficient in any respect.

A Believer’s Prayer.^{[ch] 5} If someone among you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he is to ask with faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. ⁷ A man like that should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ since he is of two minds and inconsistent in everything he does.

Rich and Poor.^{[ci] 9} The brother who is in modest circumstances should take pride in being raised up. ¹⁰ Likewise, the one who is rich should glory in being brought low, for he will disappear like a flower of the field. ¹¹ Once the sun comes up with its scorching rays and withers the grass, its flower droops and its beauty vanishes. So too the rich man will fade away in the midst of his affairs.

¹² Trials and Temptations. Blessed is the man who perseveres when he is tempted, for when he has been proven, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^[cj]

^13 [ck]While experiencing temptation, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ Rather, temptation occurs when someone is attracted and seduced by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then the desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it reaches full growth, gives birth to death.

¹⁶ Light and Life.^[cl] Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷ Every good act of giving and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of all light. With him there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. ¹⁸ By his own choice he gave us birth through the way of truth so that we may be a kind of firstfruits of all his creation.

Exhortation To Practice Faith

¹⁹ Living by God’s Word.^[cm] Remember this, my beloved brethren: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to anger. ²⁰ For human anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore, rid yourselves of everything sordid and of every wicked excess, and welcome in all humility the word that is implanted in you and is able to save your souls.

²² Be doers of the word and not just hearers who only deceive themselves. ²³ For anyone who listens to the word and fails to do it is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror. ²⁴ After seeing his reflection, he goes off and immediately forgets what he looked like. ²⁵ However, the one who looks intently at the perfect law of freedom and perseveres—not forgetting what he has heard but putting it into practice—will be blessed in everything he does.

²⁶ If anyone thinks that he is religious but does not restrain his tongue, he is deceiving himself, and his religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and undefiled is this: to come to the aid of orphans and widows in their hardships and to keep oneself untarnished by the world.

Chapter 2

Rich and Poor in the Christian Assembly.^{[cn] 1} My brethren, since you are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you must never practice favoritism. ² Suppose a man wearing a gold ring and expensive clothes comes into your assembly as well as a poor man dressed in shabby clothes. ³ If you lavish special attention on the one wearing the expensive clothes and say, “Please sit in this good seat,” while to the poor man you say, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet,” ⁴ have you not shown favoritism among yourselves and judged by wrongful standards?

⁵ Listen to me, my beloved brethren. Did not God choose those who are poor^[co] in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? ⁶ But you have humiliated the poor man. Furthermore, is it not the rich who oppress you? Are they not the ones who drag you into court? ⁷ Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?

⁸ You will be doing well if you truly observe the sovereign law enjoined in Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁹ However, if you show partiality, you are committing a sin and stand convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ¹⁰ For whoever observes the whole Law but trips up on a single point is held guilty of breaking all of it.

¹¹ The one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” Now if you do not commit adultery but you do kill, you have become a lawbreaker. ¹² Therefore, always speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom. ¹³ For judgment will be without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy, but mercy triumphs over judgment.

¹⁴ True Faith Is Proved by Works.^[cp] What good is it, my brethren, if someone claims to have faith but does not have good works? Can such faith save him? ^15 [cq]Suppose a brother or sister is naked and lacks his or her daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to such a person, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat well,” but does not take care of that person’s physical needs, what is the good of that? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself is dead if it does not have works.

¹⁸ But perhaps someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and by works I will show you my faith. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well to assert that. But even the demons believe and tremble.

²⁰ You fool! Do you want proof that faith without works is futile? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² Thus, you can see that his faith and his works were active together; his faith was brought to completion by works.

²³ Thus, the words of Scripture were fulfilled that say, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You can see, then, that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

²⁵ Likewise, Rahab the prostitute,^[cr] was she not also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them away by a different road? ²⁶ For just as the body is dead without a spirit, so faith without works is also dead.

Exhortation To Practice Christian Living

Chapter 3

Avoid Faults of the Tongue.^{[cs] 1} My brethren, not many of you should become teachers, for you know that we will face a more severe judgment. ² For all of us fall short in many ways. Anyone who never makes a mistake in speech has reached perfection^[ct] and is able to control every part of his body.

³ When we put a bit into a horse’s mouth to make it obey us, we also guide its entire body. ⁴ Or think of ships. Even though they are large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder on whatever course the helmsman chooses. ⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small member but its pretensions are great.

Consider how a small fire can set ablaze a great forest. ⁶ And the tongue is also a fire, a world of evil that infects the entire body. It sets afire the entire course of our existence and is itself set on fire by Gehenna.

⁷ For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by man, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.^[cu]

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth flow blessings and curses. This should not be so, my brethren. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives or can a grapevine produce figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh water.