Parallel Bible results for "hebrews 12"

Hebrews 12

New Living Translation NLT

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the LORD ’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.

6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?

8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.

13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

16 Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.

17 You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

18 You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai.

19 For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.

20 They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”

21 Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.

23 You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.

24 You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

25 Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!

26 When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”

27 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

29 For our God is a devouring fire.

Common English Bible CEB

1 So then let's also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let's throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up,

2 and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith's pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God's throne.

3 Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won't be discouraged and you won't give up.

4 In your struggle against sin, you haven't resisted yet to the point of shedding blood,

5 and you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons and daughters: My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline or give up when you are corrected by him,

6 because the Lord disciplines whomever he loves, and he punishes every son or daughter whom he accepts.

7 Bear hardship for the sake of discipline. God is treating you like sons and daughters! What child isn't disciplined by his or her father?

8 But if you don't experience discipline, which happens to all children, then you are illegitimate and not real sons and daughters.

9 What's more, we had human parents who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live?

10 Our human parents disciplined us for a little while, as it seemed best to them, but God does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness.

11 No discipline is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.

12 So strengthen your drooping hands and weak knees!

13 Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously.

14 Pursue the goal of peace along with everyone—and holiness as well, because no one will see the Lord without it.

15 Make sure that no one misses out on God's grace. Make sure that no root of bitterness grows up that might cause trouble and pollute many people.

16 Make sure that no one becomes sexually immoral or ungodly like Esau. He sold his inheritance as the oldest son for one meal.

17 You know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he couldn't find a way to change his heart and life, though he looked for it with tears.

18 You haven't drawn near to something that can be touched: a burning fire, darkness, shadow, a whirlwind,

19 a blast of a trumpet, and a sound of words that made the ones who heard it beg that there wouldn't be one more word.

20 They couldn't stand the command, If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.

21 The sight was so frightening that Moses said, "I'm terrified and shaking!"

22 But you have drawn near to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, to countless angels in a festival gathering,

23 to the assembly of God's firstborn children who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect,

24 to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's blood.

25 See to it that you don't resist the one who is speaking. If the people didn't escape when they refused to listen to the one who warned them on earth, how will we escape if we reject the one who is warning from heaven?

26 His voice shook the earth then, but now he has made a promise: Still once more I will shake not only the earth but heaven also.

27 The words "still once more" reveal the removal of what is shaken—the things that are part of this creation—so that what isn't shaken will remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can't be shaken, let's continue to express our gratitude. With this gratitude, let's serve in a way that is pleasing to God with respect and awe,

29 because our God really is a consuming fire.