The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Therefore, let us be terrified of the possibility that, even though the promise of entering his rest remains, any one of you might be judged to have fallen short of it;
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Let us then, though we still have God's word that we may come into his rest, go in fear that some of you may be unable to do so.
2 for Good News has also been proclaimed to us, just as it was to them. But the message they heard didn't do them any good, because those who heard it did not combine it with trust.
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And, truly, the good news came to us, even as it did to them; but the hearing of the word did them no good, because they were not united in faith with the true hearers.
3 For it is we who have trusted who enter the rest. It is just as he said, "And in my anger, I swore that they would not enter my rest." He swore this even though his works have been in existence since the founding of the universe.
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For those of us who have belief come into his rest; even as he has said, As I said in my oath when I was angry, They may not come into my rest: though the works were done from the time of the making of the world.
4 For there is a place where it is said, concerning the seventh day, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."
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For in one place he has said of the seventh day, And God had rest from all his works on the seventh day;
5 And once more, our present text says, "They will not enter my rest."
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And in the same place he says again, They will not come into my rest.
6 Therefore, since it still remains for some to enter it, and those who received the Good News earlier did not enter,
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So that as it is clear that some have to go in, and that the first hearers of the good news were not able to go in because they went against God's orders,
7 he again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David, so long afterwards, in the text already given, "Today, if you hear God's voice, don't harden your hearts."
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After a long time, again naming a certain day, he says in David, Today (as he had said before), Today if you will let his voice come to your ears, be not hard of heart,
8 For if Y'hoshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later of another "day."
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For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have said anything about another day.
9 So there remains a Shabbat-keeping for God's people.
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So that there is still a Sabbath-keeping for the people of God.
10 For the one who has entered God's rest has also rested from his own works, as God did from his.
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For the man who comes into his rest has had rest from his works, as God did from his.
11 Therefore, let us do our best to enter that rest; so that no one will fall short because of the same kind of disobedience.
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Because of this, let us have a strong desire to come into that rest, and let no one go after the example of those who went against God's orders.
12 See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword - it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart.
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For the word of God is living and full of power, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through and making a division even of the soul and the spirit, the bones and the muscles, and quick to see the thoughts and purposes of the heart.
13 Before God, nothing created is hidden, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
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And there is nothing made which is not completely clear to him; there is nothing covered, but all things are open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great cohen gadol who has passed through to the highest heaven, Yeshua, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we acknowledge as true.
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Having then a great high priest, who has made his way through the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us be strong in our faith.
15 For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin.
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For we have not a high priest who is not able to be touched by the feelings of our feeble flesh; but we have one who has been tested in all points as we ourselves are tested, but without sin.
16 Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.
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Then let us come near to the seat of grace without fear, so that mercy may be given to us, and we may get grace for our help in time of need.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.