English Standard Version ESV
Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
1
Wherefore, leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect: not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works and of faith towards God,
2 and of instruction about washings,the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
2
Of the doctrine of baptisms and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this we will do if God permits.
3
And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
4
For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
5
Have moreover tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come,
6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
6
And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God and making him a mockery.
7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
7
For the earth, that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.
8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
8
But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers is reprobate and very near unto a curse: whose end is to be burnt.
9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things--things that belong to salvation.
9
But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.
10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
10
For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered and do minister to the saints.
11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
11
And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:
12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
12
That you become not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
13
For God making promises to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,
14 saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you."
14
Saying: Unless blessing I shall bless thee and multiplying I shall multiply thee.
15 And thus Abraham,having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
15
And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.
16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
16
For men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.
17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,
17
Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
18
That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest comfort, we who have fled for refuge to hold fast the hope set before us.
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
19
Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil:
20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
20
Where the forerunner Jesus is entered for us, made a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.