1 Timothy 6; 2 Timothy 1; 2 Timothy 2; 2 Timothy 3; 2 Timothy 4; Titus 1; Titus 2; Titus 3; Philemon 1; Hebrews 1; Hebrews 2; Hebrews 3; Hebrews 4

1 Timothy 6

1 All who are forced to serve as slaves should consider their masters worthy of full respect. Then people will not speak evil things against God's name and against what we teach.

2 Some slaves have masters who are believers. They shouldn't show less respect for their masters just because they are believers. Instead, they should serve them even better. That's because those who benefit from their service are believers. They are loved by them. Teach the slaves those things. Try hard to get them to do them.

3 Suppose someone teaches ideas that are false. He doesn't agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. He doesn't agree with godly teaching.

4 People like that are proud. They don't understand anything. They like to argue more than they should. They can't agree about what words mean. All of that results in wanting what others have. It causes fighting, harmful talk, and evil distrust.

5 It stirs up trouble all the time among people whose minds are twisted by sin. The truth they once had has been taken away from them. They think they can get rich by being godly.

6 You gain a lot when you live a godly life. But you must be happy with what you have.

7 We didn't bring anything into the world. We can't take anything out of it.

8 If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with that.

9 People who want to get rich are tempted. They fall into a trap. They are tripped up by wanting many foolish and harmful things. Those who live like that are dragged down by what they do. They are destroyed and die.

10 Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows.

11 But you are a man of God. Run away from all of those things. Try hard to do what is right and godly. Have faith, love and gentleness. Hold on to what you believe.

12 Fight the good fight along with all other believers. Take hold of eternal life. You were chosen for it when you openly told others what you believe. Many witnesses heard you.

13 God gives life to everything. Christ Jesus told the truth when he gave witness to Pontius Pilate. In the sight of God and Christ, I give you a command.

14 Obey it until our Lord Jesus Christ appears. Obey it completely. Then no one can find fault with it or you.

15 God will bring Jesus back at a time that pleases him. God is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the greatest King of all. He is the most powerful Lord of all.

16 God is the only one who can't die. He lives in light that no one can get close to. No one has seen him. No one can see him. Give honor and power to him forever. Amen.

17 Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches. Wealth is so uncertain. Command those who are rich to put their hope in God. He richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

18 Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely. They must be willing to share.

19 In that way they will put riches away for themselves. It will provide a firm basis for the next life. Then they will take hold of the life that really is life.

20 Timothy, guard what God has trusted you with. Turn away from godless chatter. Stay away from opposing ideas that are falsely called knowledge.

21 Some people believe them. By doing that they have wandered away from the faith. May God's grace be with you.

2 Timothy 1

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. He sent me to tell about the promise of life that is found in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy, I am sending you this letter. You are my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace.

3 I serve God, knowing that what I have done is right. That is how our people served him long ago. Night and day I thank God for you. Night and day I always remember you in my prayers.

4 I remember your tears. I long to see you so that I can be filled with joy.

5 I remember your honest and true faith. It was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice. And I am certain that it is now alive in you also.

6 That is why I remind you to help God's gift grow, just as a small spark grows into a fire. God put his gift in you when I placed my hands on you.

7 God didn't give us a spirit that makes us weak and fearful. He gave us a spirit that gives us power and love. It helps us control ourselves.

8 So don't be ashamed to give witness about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, join with me as I suffer for the good news. God's power will help us do that.

9 God has saved us. He has chosen us to live a holy life. It wasn't because of anything we have done. It was because of his own purpose and grace. Through Christ Jesus, God gave us that grace even before time began.

10 It has now been made known through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has destroyed death. Because of the good news, he has brought life out into the light. That life never dies.

11 I was appointed to announce the good news. I was appointed to be an apostle and a teacher.

12 That's why I'm suffering the way I am. But I'm not ashamed. I know the One I have believed in. I am sure he is able to take care of what I have given him. I can trust him with it until the day he returns as judge.

13 Follow what you heard from me as the pattern of true teaching. Follow it with faith and love because you belong to Christ Jesus.

14 Guard the truth of the good news that you were trusted with. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

15 You know that all the believers in Asia Minor have deserted me. They include Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show mercy to all who live in the house of Onesiphorus. He often cheered me up. He was not ashamed that I was being held by chains.

17 In fact, it was just the opposite. When he was in Rome, he looked everywhere for me. At last he found me.

18 May Onesiphorus find mercy from the Lord on the day Jesus returns as judge. You know very well how many ways Onesiphorus helped me in Ephesus.

2 Timothy 2

1 My son, be strong in the grace that is found in Christ Jesus.

2 You have heard me teach in front of many witnesses. Pass on to men you can trust the things you've heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others also.

3 Like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, share in the hard times with us.

4 A soldier does not take part in things that don't have anything to do with the army. He wants to please his commanding officer.

5 In the same way, anyone who takes part in a sport doesn't receive the winner's crown unless he plays by the rules.

6 The farmer who works hard should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

7 Think about what I'm saying. The Lord will help you understand what all of it means.

8 Remember Jesus Christ. He came from David's family line. He was raised from the dead. That is my good news.

9 I am suffering for it. I have even been put in chains like someone who has committed a crime. But God's word is not held back by chains.

10 So I put up with everything for the good of God's chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever.

11 Here is a saying you can trust. If we died with him, we will also live with him.

12 If we don't give up, we will also rule with him. If we say we don't know him, he will also say he doesn't know us.

13 Even if we are not faithful, he will remain faithful. He must be true to himself.

14 Keep reminding the believers of those things. While God is watching, warn them not to argue about words. That doesn't have any value. It only destroys those who listen.

15 Do your best to please God. Be a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed. Teach the message of truth correctly.

16 Stay away from godless chatter. Those who take part in it will become more and more ungodly.

17 Their teaching will spread like a deadly sickness. Hymenaeus and Philetus are two of those teachers.

18 They have wandered away from the truth. They say that the time when people will rise from the dead has already come. They destroy the faith of some people.

19 But God's solid foundation stands firm. Here is the message written on it. "The Lord knows who his own people are."(Numbers 16:5) Also, "All who say they believe in the Lord must turn away from evil."

20 In a large house there are things made out of gold and silver. But there are also things made out of wood and clay. Some have honorable purposes. Others do not.

21 Suppose someone stays away from what is not honorable. Then the Master will be able to use him for honorable purposes. He will be made holy. He will be ready to do any good work.

22 Run away from the evil things that young people long for. Try hard to do what is right. Have faith, love and peace. Do these things together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

23 Don't have anything to do with arguing. It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights.

24 Anyone who serves the Lord must not fight. Instead, he must be kind to everyone. He must be able to teach. He must not hold anything against anyone.

25 He must gently teach those who oppose him. Maybe God will give a change of heart to those who are against you. That will lead them to know the truth.

26 Maybe they will come to their senses. Maybe they will escape the devil's trap. He has taken them prisoner to do what he wanted.

2 Timothy 3

1 Here is what I want you to know. There will be terrible times in the last days.

2 People will love themselves. They will love money. They will brag and be proud. They will tear others down. They will not obey their parents. They won't be thankful or holy.

3 They won't love others. They won't forgive others. They will tell lies about people. They will be out of control. They will be wild. They will hate what is good.

4 They will turn against their friends. They will act without thinking. They will think they are better than others. They will love what pleases them instead of loving God.

5 They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God's power. Have nothing to do with those people.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into the homes of silly women. They get control over them. Women like that are loaded down with sins. They give in to all kinds of evil longings.

7 They are always learning. But they never come to know the truth.

8 Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. In the same way, the teachers I'm talking about oppose the truth. Their minds are twisted. As far as the faith is concerned, God doesn't accept them.

9 They won't get very far. Just like Jannes and Jambres, their foolish ways will be clear to everyone.

10 But you know all about my teaching. You know how I live and what I live for. You know about my faith and love. You know how patient I am. You know I haven't given up.

11 You know that I was treated badly. You know that I suffered greatly. You know what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. You know how badly I have been treated. But the Lord saved me from all of my troubles.

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be treated badly.

13 Evil people and pretenders will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and others will fool them.

14 But I want you to continue to follow what you have learned. Don't give up what you are sure of. You know the people you learned it from.

15 You have known the Holy Scriptures ever since you were a little child. They are able to teach you how to be saved by believing in Christ Jesus.

16 God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.

17 By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.

2 Timothy 4

1 I give you a command in the sight of God and Christ Jesus. Christ will judge the living and the dead. Because he and his kingdom are coming, here is the command I give you.

2 Preach the word. Be ready to serve God in good times and bad. Correct people's mistakes. Warn them. Cheer them up with words of hope. Be very patient as you do these things. Teach them carefully.

3 The time will come when people won't put up with true teaching. Instead, they will try to satisfy their own longings. They will gather a large number of teachers around them. The teachers will say what the people want to hear.

4 The people will turn their ears away from the truth. They will turn to stories that aren't completely true.

5 But I want you to keep your head no matter what happens. Don't give up when times are hard. Work to spread the good news. Do everything God has given you to do.

6 I am already being poured out like a drink offering. The time has come for me to leave.

7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.

8 Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return.

9 Do your best to come to me quickly.

10 Demas has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica. He left me because he loved this world. Crescens has gone to Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia.

11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He helps me in my work for the Lord.

12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

13 When you come, bring my coat. I left it with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my scrolls. Most of all, bring the ones made out of animal skins.

14 Remember Alexander, the one who works with metal? He did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he has done.

15 You too should watch out for him. He strongly opposed our message.

16 The first time I was put on trial, no one came to help me. Everyone deserted me. I hope they will be forgiven for it.

17 The Lord stood at my side. He gave me the strength to preach the whole message. Then all those who weren't Jews heard it. I was saved from the lion's mouth.

18 The Lord will save me from every evil attack. He will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Give him glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila. Greet those who live in the house of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus stayed in Corinth. I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.

21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you. So do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.

22 May the Lord be with your spirit. May God's grace be with you.

Titus 1

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I serve God. I am an apostle of Jesus Christ. God sent me to help his chosen people believe in Christ. I have been sent to help them understand the truth that leads to godly living.

2 Faith and understanding rest on the hope of eternal life. Before time began, God promised to give that life. And he does not lie.

3 At just the right time he made his word plain. He did it through the preaching that he trusted me with. God our Savior has commanded all those things.

4 Titus, I am sending you this letter. You are my true son in the faith we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.

5 I left you on the island of Crete. There were some things that hadn't been finished. You needed to sort them out. You also had to appoint elders in every town. I told you how to do it.

6 An elder must be without blame. He must be faithful to his wife. His children must be believers. They must not give anyone a reason to say that they are wild and don't obey.

7 A church leader is trusted with God's work. That's why he must be without blame. He must not look after only his own interests. He must not get angry easily. He must not get drunk. He must not push people around. He must not try to get money by cheating people.

8 Instead, he must welcome people into his home. He must love what is good. He must control his mind and feelings. He must do what is right. He must be holy. He must control what his body longs for.

9 The message as it has been taught can be trusted. He must hold firmly to it. Then he will be able to use true teaching to comfort others and build them up. He will be able to prove that people who oppose it are wrong.

10 Many people refuse to obey God. All they do is talk a lot. They try to fool others. No one does these things more than the circumcision group.

11 They must be stopped. They are destroying entire families. They are teaching things they shouldn't. They do it to get money by cheating people.

12 Even one of their own prophets has said, "People from Crete are always liars. They are evil beasts. They don't want to work. They live only to eat."

13 What I have just said is true. So give them a strong warning. Then they will understand the faith correctly.

14 They will pay no attention to Jewish stories that aren't completely true. They won't listen to the commands of those who turn away from the truth.

15 To people who are pure, all things are pure. But to those who have twisted minds and don't believe, nothing is pure. In fact, their minds and their sense of what is right and wrong are twisted.

16 They claim to know God. But their actions show they don't know him. They are hated by God. They refuse to obey him. They aren't fit to do anything good.

Titus 2

1 What you teach must agree with true teaching.

2 Tell the older men that in anything they do, they must not go too far. They must be worthy of respect. They must control themselves. They must have true faith. They must love others. They must not give up.

3 In the same way, teach the older women to lead a holy life. They must not tell lies about others. They must not let wine control them. Instead, they must teach what is good.

4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children.

5 The younger women must control themselves. They must be pure. They must take good care of their homes. They must be kind. They must follow the lead of their husbands. Then no one will be able to speak evil things against God's word.

6 In the same way, help the young men to control themselves.

7 Do what is good. Set an example for them in everything. When you teach, be honest and serious.

8 No one can question the truth. So teach what is true. Then those who oppose you will be ashamed. That's because they will have nothing bad to say about us.

9 Teach slaves to obey their masters in everything they do. Tell them to try to please their masters. They must not talk back to them.

10 They must not steal from them. Instead, they must show that they can be trusted completely. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior appealing in every way.

11 God's saving grace has appeared to all people.

12 It teaches us to say no to godless ways and sinful longings. We must control ourselves. We must do what is right. We must lead godly lives in today's world.

13 That's how we should live as we wait for the blessed hope God has given us. We are waiting for Jesus Christ to appear in all his glory. He is our great God and Savior.

14 He gave himself for us. By doing that, he set us free from all evil. He wanted to make us pure. He wanted us to be his very own people. He wanted us to long to do what is good.

15 Those are the things you should teach. Cheer people up and give them hope. Correct them with full authority. Don't let anyone look down on you.

Titus 3

1 Remind God's people to obey rulers and authorities. Remind them to be ready to do what is good.

2 Tell them not to speak evil things against anyone. Remind them to live in peace. They must consider the needs of others. They must be kind and gentle toward all people.

3 At one time we too acted like fools. We didn't obey God. We were tricked. We were controlled by all kinds of longings and pleasures. We were full of evil. We wanted what belongs to others. People hated us, and we hated one another.

4 But the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared.

5 He saved us. It wasn't because of the good things we had done. It was because of his mercy. He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life.

6 God poured out the Spirit on us freely because of what Jesus Christ our Savior has done.

7 His grace made us right with God. So now we have received the hope of eternal life as God's children.

8 You can trust that saying. Those things are important. Treat them that way. Then those who have trusted in God will be careful to commit themselves to doing what is good. Those things are excellent. They are for the good of everyone.

9 But keep away from foolish disagreements. Don't argue about family histories. Don't make trouble. Don't fight about what the law teaches. Don't argue about things like that. It doesn't do any good. It doesn't help anyone.

10 Warn anyone who tries to get believers to take sides and separate into their own little groups. Warn him more than once. After that, have nothing to do with him.

11 You can be sure that someone like that is twisted and sinful. His own actions judge him.

12 I will send Artemas or Tychicus to you. Then do your best to come to me at Nicopolis. I've decided to spend the winter there.

13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos. Send them on their way. See that they have everything they need.

14 Our people must learn to commit themselves to doing what is good. Then they will be able to provide for the daily needs of others. If they do that, their lives won't turn out to be useless.

15 Everyone who is with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. May God's grace be with you all.

Philemon 1

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. Our brother Timothy joins me in writing. Philemon, we are sending you this letter. You are our dear friend. You work together with us.

2 We are also sending it to our sister Apphia and to Archippus. He is a soldier of Christ together with us. And we are sending it to the church that meets in your home.

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

4 I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers.

5 That's because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus. I hear about your love for all of God's people.

6 I pray that you will be active in sharing what you believe. Then you will completely understand every good thing we have in Christ.

7 Your love has given me great joy. It has cheered me up. My brother, you have renewed the hearts of God's people.

8 Because of the authority Christ has given me, I could be bold. I could order you to do what you should do anyway.

9 But I make my appeal to you on the basis of our love for each other. I, Paul, am an old man. I am now also a prisoner because of Christ Jesus.

10 I make an appeal to you for my son Onesimus. He became a son to me while I was being held by chains.

11 Before that, he was useless to you. But now he has become useful to you and to me.

12 I'm sending Onesimus back to you. My very heart goes with him.

13 I would have liked to keep him with me. Then he could have taken your place in helping me while I'm being held by chains because of the good news.

14 But I didn't want to do anything unless you agreed. Any favor you do must be done because you want to do it, not because you have to.

15 Onesimus was separated from you for a little while. Maybe that was so you could have him back for good.

16 You could have him back not as a slave. Instead, he would be better than a slave. He would be a dear brother. He is very dear to me. But he is even more dear to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 Do you think of me as a believer who works together with you? Then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me.

18 Has he done anything wrong to you? Does he owe you anything? Then charge it to me.

19 I'll pay it back. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I won't even mention that you owe me your very life.

20 My brother, I wish I could receive some benefit from you because we both belong to the Lord. Renew my heart. We know that Christ is the one who really renews it.

21 I'm sure you will obey. So I'm writing to you. I know you will do even more than I ask.

22 There is one more thing. Have a guest room ready for me. I hope I can return to all of you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras sends you greetings. Together with me, he is a prisoner because of Christ Jesus.

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke work together with me. They also send you greetings.

25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Hebrews 1

1 In the past, God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke at many times. He spoke in different ways.

2 But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one whom God appointed to receive all things. God made everything through him.

3 The Son is the gleaming brightness of God's glory. He is the exact likeness of God's being. He uses his powerful word to hold all things together. He provided the way for people to be made pure from sin. Then he sat down at the right hand of the King, the Majesty in heaven.

4 So he became higher than the angels. The name he received is more excellent than theirs.

5 God never said to any of the angels, "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father." (Psalm 2:7) Or, "I will be his Father. And he will be my Son." (2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13)

6 God's first and only Son is over all things. When God brings him into the world, he says, "Let all of God's angels worship him." (Deuteronomy 32:43)

7 Here is something else God says about the angels. "God makes his angels to be like winds. He makes those who serve him to be like flashes of lightning." (Psalm 104:4)

8 But here is what he says about the Son. "You are God. Your throne will last for ever and ever. Your kingdom will be ruled by what is right.

9 You have loved what is right and hated what is evil. So your God has placed you above your companions. He has filled you with joy by pouring the sacred oil on your head." (Psalm 45:6,7)

10 He also says, "Lord, in the beginning you made the earth secure. You placed it on its foundations. The heavens are the work of your hands.

11 They will pass away. But you remain. They will all wear out like a piece of clothing.

12 You will roll them up like a robe. They will be changed as a person changes clothes. But you remain the same. Your years will never end." (Psalm 102:25-27)

13 God never said to an angel, "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your control." (Psalm 110:1)

14 All angels are spirits who serve. God sends them to serve those who will receive salvation.

Hebrews 2

1 So we must pay more careful attention to what we have heard. Then we will not drift away from it.

2 Even the message God spoke through angels had to be obeyed. Every time people broke the Law, they were punished. Every time they didn't obey, they were punished.

3 Then how will we escape if we don't pay attention to God's great salvation? The Lord first announced that salvation. Those who heard him gave us the message about it.

4 God gave witness to it through signs and wonders. He gave witness through different kinds of miracles. He also gave witness through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He gave them out as it pleased him.

5 God has not put angels in charge of the world that is going to come. We are talking about that world.

6 There is a place where someone has given witness to it. He said, "What is a human being that you think about him? What is the son of man that you take care of him?

7 You made him a little lower than the angels. You placed on him a crown of glory and honor.

8 You have put everything under his control." (Psalm 8:4-6) So God has put everything under him. Everything is under his control. We do not now see everything under his control.

9 But we do see Jesus already given a crown of glory and honor. He was made a little lower than the angels. He suffered death. By the grace of God, he tasted death for everyone. That is why he was given his crown.

10 God has made everything. He has acted in exactly the right way. He is bringing his many sons and daughters to share in his glory. To do so, he has made the One who saved them perfect because of his sufferings.

11 The One who makes people holy and the people he makes holy belong to the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

12 He says, "I will announce your name to my brothers and sisters. I will sing your praises among those who worship you." (Psalm 22:22)

13 Again he says, "I will put my trust in him." (Isaiah 8:17) And again he says, "Here I am. Here are the children God has given me." (Isaiah 8:18)

14 Those children have bodies made out of flesh and blood. So Jesus became human like them in order to die for them. By doing that, he could destroy the one who rules over the kingdom of death. I'm talking about the devil.

15 Jesus could set people free who were afraid of death. All their lives they were held as slaves by that fear.

16 It is certainly Abraham's children that he helps. He doesn't help angels.

17 So he had to be made like his brothers in every way. Then he could serve God as a kind and faithful high priest. And then he could pay for the sins of the people by dying for them.

18 He himself suffered when he was tempted. Now he is able to help others who are being tempted.

Hebrews 3

1 Holy brothers and sisters, God chose you to be his people. So keep thinking about Jesus. He is our apostle. He is our high priest. We believe in him.

2 Moses was faithful in everything he did in the house of God. In the same way, Jesus was faithful to the One who appointed him.

3 The person who builds a house has greater honor than the house itself. In the same way, Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses.

4 Every house is built by someone. But God is the builder of everything.

5 Moses was faithful as one who serves in the house of God. He gave witness to what God would say in days to come.

6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. We are his house if we continue to come boldly to God. We must also hold on to the hope we take pride in.

7 The Holy Spirit says, "Listen to his voice today.

8 If you hear it, don't be stubborn. You were stubborn when you opposed me. You did that when you were put to the test in the desert.

9 There your people of long ago put me to the test. For 40 years they saw what I did.

10 That is why I was angry with them. I said, 'Their hearts are always going down the wrong path. They have not known my ways.'

11 So in my anger I took an oath. I said, 'They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.' " (Psalm 95:7-11)

12 Brothers and sisters, make sure that none of you has a sinful heart. Do not let an unbelieving heart turn you away from the living God.

13 But build one another up every day. Do it as long as there is still time. Then none of you will become stubborn. You won't be fooled by sin's tricks.

14 We belong to Christ if we hold firmly to the faith we had at first. But we must hold to it until the end.

15 It has just been said, "Listen to his voice today. If you hear it, don't be stubborn. You were stubborn when you opposed me." (Psalm 95:7,8)

16 Who were those who heard and refused to obey? Weren't they all the people Moses led out of Egypt?

17 Who was God angry with for 40 years? Wasn't it with those who sinned? They died in the desert.

18 What people did God promise with an oath that they would never enjoy the rest he planned for them? Wasn't it those who didn't obey?

19 So we see that they weren't able to enter. That's because they didn't believe.

Hebrews 4

1 God's promise of enjoying his rest still stands. So be careful that none of you fails to receive it.

2 The good news was preached to our people long ago. It has also been preached to us. The message they heard didn't have any value for them. They didn't combine it with faith.

3 Now we who have believed enjoy that rest. God said, "When I was angry I took an oath. I said, 'They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.' " (Psalm 95:11) Ever since God created the world, his work has been finished.

4 Somewhere he spoke about the seventh day. He said, "On the seventh day God rested from all his work."(Genesis 2:2)

5 In the part of Scripture I talked about earlier God said, "They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them."(Psalm 95:11)

6 It is still true that some will enjoy that rest. But those who had the good news preached to them earlier didn't go in. That was because they didn't obey.

7 So God again chose a certain day. He named it Today. He did that when he spoke through David a long time later. As it was said earlier, "Listen to his voice today. If you hear it, don't be stubborn." (Psalm 95:7,8)

8 Suppose Joshua had given them rest. If he had, God would not have spoken later about another day.

9 So there is still a Sabbath rest for God's people.

10 God rested from his work. Those who enjoy God's rest also rest from their work.

11 So let us make every effort to enjoy that rest. Then no one will fall into sin by following the example of those who didn't obey God.

12 The word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate joints from bones. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

13 Nothing God created is hidden from him. His eyes see everything. He will hold us accountable for everything we do.

14 We have a great high priest. He has gone up into the heavens. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us hold firmly to what we say we believe.

15 We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin.

16 So let us boldly approach the throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.