Hebrews · Catholic Public Domain Version
Hebrews 12 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
1 Furthermore, since we also have so great a cloud of witnesses over us, let us set aside every burden and sin which may surround us, and advance, through patience, to the struggle offered to us.
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 Let us gaze upon Jesus, as the Author and the completion of our faith, who, having joy laid out before him, endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and who now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.
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 So then, meditate upon him who endured such adversity from sinners against himself, so that you may not become weary, failing in your souls.
3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
4 For you have not yet resisted unto blood, while striving against sin.
4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the consolation which speaks to you like sons, saying: “My son, do not be willing to neglect the discipline of the Lord. Neither should you become weary, while being rebuked by him.”
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 whomever the Lord loves, he chastises. And every son whom he accepts, he scourges.
6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 Persevere in discipline. God presents you to himself as sons. But what son is there, whom his father does not correct?
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 that discipline in which all have become sharers, then you are of adultery, and you are not sons.
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children.
9 Then, too, we have certainly had the fathers of our flesh as instructors, and we reverenced them. Should we not obey the Father of spirits all the more, and so live?
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 And indeed, for a few days and according to their own wishes, they instructed us. But he does so to our benefit, so that we may receive his sanctification.
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 Now every discipline, in the present time, does not seem a gladness, of course, but a grief. But afterwards, it will repay a most peaceful fruit of justice to those who become trained in it.
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 Because of this, lift up your lazy hands and your lax knees,
12 Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
13 and straighten the path of your feet, so that no one, being lame, may wander astray, but instead may be healed.
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with everyone. Pursue sanctity, without which no one shall see God.
14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
15 Be contemplative, lest anyone lack the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and impede you, and by it, many might be defiled,
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 any fornicator or worldly person be like Esau, who, for the sake of one meal, sold his birthright.
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 afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected. For he found no place for repentance, even though he had sought it with tears.
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 But you have not drawn near to a tangible mountain, or a burning fire, or a whirlwind, or a mist, or a storm,
18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,
19 or the sound of a trumpet, or a voice of words. Those who had experienced these things excused themselves, lest the Word be spoken to them.
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 bear what was said, and so, if even a beast would have touched the mountain, it would have been stoned.
20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.
21 And what was seen was so terrible that even Moses said: “I am terrified, and so, I tremble.”
21 So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
22 But you have drawn near to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of Angels,
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 and to the Church of the first-born, those who have been inscribed in the heavens, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,
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 and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament, and to a sprinkling of blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
25 Be careful not to reject the One who is speaking. For if those who rejected him who was speaking upon the earth were not able to escape, so much more we who might turn away from the One who is speaking to us from heaven.
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 Then, his voice moved the earth. But now, he makes a promise, saying: “There is still one more time, and then I will move, not only the earth, but also heaven itself.”
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 And so, in saying, “There is still one more time,” he declares the transfer of the moveable things of creation, so that those things which are immoveable may remain.
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 Thus, in receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace. So, through grace, let us be of service, by pleasing God with fear and reverence.
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.
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Timothy 4:7; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Philippians 2:16; Luke 21:34; Hebrews 10:35–39
- 2 Micah 7:7; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:23–24; Hebrews 1:3; Philippians 1:6
- 3 Galatians 6:9; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Revelation 2:3; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Hebrews 12:2
- 4 1 Corinthians 10:13; Revelation 2:13; Hebrews 10:32–34; Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 24:9
- 5 Proverbs 3:11–12; Job 5:17–18; Revelation 3:19; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Psalm 94:12
- 6 Revelation 3:19; Proverbs 3:12; Psalm 119:75; Proverbs 13:24; Psalm 94:12
- 7 Proverbs 19:18; Deuteronomy 8:5; Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 29:15; Proverbs 29:17
- 8 Hebrews 12:6; 1 Peter 5:9–10; Psalm 73:1; Psalm 73:14–15
- 9 Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16; Isaiah 42:5; John 3:6; Job 12:10
- 10 2 Peter 1:4; Leviticus 11:44–45; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 5:26–27; Ezekiel 36:25–27
- 11 Romans 5:3–5; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Hebrews 12:5–6; 1 Peter 1:6; Hebrews 12:10
- 12 Isaiah 35:3; Hebrews 12:3; Job 4:3–4; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Ezekiel 21:7
- 13 Proverbs 4:26–27; Galatians 6:1; Isaiah 35:3; Isaiah 35:6; Isaiah 40:3–4
- 14 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:15–16; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Matthew 5:8–9; 1 Peter 3:11
- 15 Hebrews 3:12; Deuteronomy 29:18; Galatians 5:4; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 2 John 8
- 16 Genesis 25:31–34; 1 Corinthians 6:15–20; Hebrews 13:4; Mark 7:21; Revelation 22:15
- 17 Proverbs 1:24–31; Matthew 25:11–12; Matthew 7:23; Hebrews 6:8; Hebrews 10:26–29
- 18 Deuteronomy 4:11; Exodus 24:17; Deuteronomy 5:22–26; Exodus 20:18; Romans 6:14
- 19 Deuteronomy 18:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52; Deuteronomy 4:12; Exodus 20:1–19; Deuteronomy 5:3–22
- 20 Exodus 19:12–13; Deuteronomy 33:2; Galatians 3:10; Galatians 2:19; Exodus 19:16
- 21 Exodus 19:16; Deuteronomy 9:19; Isaiah 6:3–5; Exodus 19:19; Psalm 119:120
- 22 Philippians 3:20; Galatians 4:26; Psalm 48:2; Revelation 14:1; Isaiah 51:11
- 23 James 1:18; Hebrews 11:40; Luke 10:20; Revelation 14:4; Exodus 4:22
- 24 Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 11:28; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:10
- 25 Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 2:1–3; Deuteronomy 30:17; Zechariah 7:11; Proverbs 13:18
- 26 Haggai 2:6–7; Isaiah 13:13; Exodus 19:18; Isaiah 2:19; Joel 3:16
- 27 Matthew 24:35; 1 Corinthians 7:31; Revelation 21:1; 2 Peter 3:10–11; Revelation 11:15
- 28 Romans 12:1–2; Psalm 2:11; Hebrews 13:15; Daniel 2:44; Hebrews 4:16
- 29 Deuteronomy 4:24; Deuteronomy 9:3; Isaiah 66:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Hebrews 10:27
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
There are two kinds of consolation, apparently opposed to one another, but yet contributing great strength each to the other; both of which he has here put forward.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
For thus saith the holy Word: "The Lord hath severely chastened me, yet hath not given me over to death." "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." "The righteous," saith it, "shall chasten me in mercy, and reprove me; but let not the oil of sinners make fat my head." And again he …
… between thee and him alone." So too of sins which may create scandal the apostle says, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." For this purpose, and that we may keep that peace without which no man can see the Lord, many precepts are given which carefully inculcate mutual forgiveness; among which we may number that …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Since, if the Jews, when they were to approach "a mountain that burned, and fire, and blackness, and darkness, and tempest;" --or rather when they were not so much as to approach, but both to see and to hear these things from afar;--were commanded for three days before to abstain from their wives, and to wash their garments, and were …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For you, brethren, a great crown is laid up: barter not away a great dignity for a petty pleasure: listen to the Apostle speaking: Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)