1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin. Let us patiently run the race that is placed before us. 2 Let us pay attention to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of the faith. For the joy that was placed before him, he endured the cross, despised its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 So think about him, the one who has endured such opposition from sinners against himself, so that you do not become weary in your hearts and give up. 4 You have not yet resisted or struggled against sin to the point of blood; 5 and you have forgotten the encouragement that instructs you as sons: “My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline, nor grow weary when you are corrected by him.” 6 For the Lord disciplines everyone whom he loves, and he punishes every son whom he receives. 7 Endure suffering as discipline. God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, which all people share in, then you are illegitimate and not his sons. 9 Furthermore, we had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best. But God disciplines us for our good, so that we can share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. But later it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it. 12 So strengthen your hands that hang down and your weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be sprained but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with everyone, and also the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 Be careful so that no one lacks God's grace, and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble, so that many do not become polluted by it. 16 Be careful that there be no sexually immoral or ungodly person such as Esau, who for one meal sold his own birthright. 17 For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought it with tears. 18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, a mountain of burning fire, darkness, gloom, and storm. 19 You have not come to a trumpet blast, nor to a voice that speaks words whose hearers begged that not another word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 21 So fearful was this sight that Moses said, “I am terrified and am trembling.” 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels in celebration. 23 You have come to the congregation of the firstborn, who have been registered in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones who have been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's blood. 25 See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is warning from heaven. 26 At one time, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised and said, “One more time I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27 These words, “One more time,” mean the removal of those things that can be shaken, that is, of the things that have been created, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain. 28 Therefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be grateful and in this manner worship God with reverence and awe. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews · Unlocked Literal Bible
Hebrews 12 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)