Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Therefore, since the promise that we can enter into rest is still open, let's be careful so that none of you will appear to miss it.
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Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it.
2 We also had the good news preached to us, just as the Israelites did. However, the message they heard didn't help them because they weren't united in faith with the ones who listened to it.
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For good news came to us just as to them; but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the hearers.
3 We who have faith are entering the rest. As God said, And because of my anger I swore: "They will never enter into my rest!" And yet God's works were completed at the foundation of the world.
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For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall never enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 Then somewhere he said this about the seventh day of creation: God rested on the seventh day from all his works.
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For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."
5 But again, in the passage above, God said, They will never enter my rest!
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And again in this place he said, "They shall never enter my rest."
6 Therefore, it's left open for some to enter it, and the ones who had the good news preached to them before didn't enter because of disobedience.
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Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,
7 Just as it says in the passage above, God designates a certain day as "today," when he says through David much later, Today, if you hear his voice, don't have stubborn hearts.
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again he sets a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, "Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
8 If Joshua gave the Israelites rest, God wouldn't have spoken about another day later on.
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For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later of another day.
9 So you see that a sabbath rest is left open for God's people.
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So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God;
10 The one who entered God's rest also rested from his works, just as God rested from his own.
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for whoever enters God's rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his.
11 Therefore, let's make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience,
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Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience.
12 because God's word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It's able to judge the heart's thoughts and intentions.
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For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 No creature is hidden from it, but rather everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we have to give an answer.
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And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Also, let's hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God's Son;
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Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 because we don't have a high priest who can't sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin.
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For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Finally, let's draw near to the throne of favor with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace when we need help.
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Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.