| 1 | Let love for your fellow believers continue
and
be a fixed practice with you [never let it fail]. |
| 2 | Do not forget
or
neglect
or
refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. |
| 3 | Remember those who are in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are ill-treated, since you also are liable to bodily sufferings. |
| 4 | Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge
and
punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous. |
| 5 | Let your
[a]character
or
moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God]
[b]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you
nor
[c]give you up
nor
leave you without support. [I will] not,
[d][I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless
nor
forsake
nor
[e]let [you] down (
[f]relax My hold on you)! [
[g]Assuredly not!] |
| 6 | So we take comfort
and
are encouraged
and
confidently
and
boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? |
| 7 | Remember your leaders
and
superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you the Word of God. Observe attentively
and
consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives) and imitate their faith (
[h]their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their
[i]leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness). |
| 8 | Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). |
| 9 | Do not be carried about by different
and
varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established
and
ennobled
and
strengthened by means of grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit
or
profit to those who observe them. |
| 10 | We have an altar from which those who serve
and
[j]worship in the tabernacle have no right to eat. |
| 11 | For when the blood of animals is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin, the victims’ bodies are burned outside the limits of the camp. |
| 12 | Therefore Jesus also suffered
and
died outside the [city’s] gate in order that He might purify
and
consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood
and
set them apart as holy [for God]. |
| 13 | Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent us] to Him outside the camp [at Calvary], bearing the contempt
and
abuse
and
shame with Him. |
| 14 | For here we have no permanent city, but we are looking for the one which is to come. |
| 15 | Through Him, therefore, let us constantly
and
at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge
and
confess
and
glorify His name. |
| 16 | Do not forget
or
neglect to do kindness
and
good, to be generous
and
distribute
and
contribute to the needy [of the church
[k]as embodiment and proof of fellowship], for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. |
| 17 | Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls
and
guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing
and
groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either]. |
| 18 | Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly
and
live a noble life, acting honorably
and
in complete honesty in all things. |
| 19 | And I beg of you [to pray for us] the more earnestly, in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. |
| 20 | Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), |
| 21 | Strengthen (complete, perfect)
and
make you what you ought to be
and
equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you
and
accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it). |
| 22 | I call on you, brethren, to listen patiently
and
bear with this message of exhortation
and
admonition
and
encouragement, for I have written to you briefly. |
| 23 | Notice that our brother Timothy has been released [from prison]. If he comes here soon, I will see you along with him. |
| 24 | Give our greetings to all of your spiritual leaders and to all of the saints (God’s consecrated believers). The Italian Christians send you their greetings [also]. |
| 25 | Grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) be with you all.
Amen (so be it).
|
Cross references:
-
Hebrews 13:2 : Gen. 18:1-8; 19:1-3.
-
Hebrews 13:5 : Josh. 1:5.
-
Hebrews 13:6 : Ps. 27:1; 118:6.
-
Hebrews 13:11 : Lev. 16:27.
-
Hebrews 13:13 : Lev. 16:27.
-
Hebrews 13:15 : Lev. 7:12; Isa. 57:19; Hos. 14:2.
-
Hebrews 13:20 : Isa. 55:3; 63:11; Ezek. 37:26; Zech. 9:11.
|