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But [if it] produces thorns and thistles, [it is] worthless and near to a curse, whose end [is] for burning.
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But even if we are speaking in this way, dear friends, we are convinced of better [things] concerning you, and belonging to salvation.
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For God [is] not unjust, [so as] to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for his name [by] having served the saints, and continuing to serve [them].
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And we desire each one of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of [your] hope until the end,
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in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and patience.
The Reliability of God’s Promise
13 For [when] God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself,
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saying, "Surely {I will greatly bless}
you, and {I will greatly multiply} you."
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And so, [by] persevering, he obtained the promise.
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For people swear by what is greater [than themselves], and the oath for confirmation [is the] end of all dispute for them.
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In the same way God, [because he] wanted to show even more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his resolve, guaranteed [it] with an oath,
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in order that through two unchangeable things, in which [it is] impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before [us],