New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God,
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For this reason let us go on from the first things about Christ to full growth; not building again that on which it is based, that is, the turning of the heart from dead works, and faith in God,
2 instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
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The teaching of baptisms, and of the putting on of hands, and of the future life of the dead, and of the judging on the last day.
3 And we will do this, if God permits.
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Now we will do this, if God lets us.
4 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
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As for those who at one time saw the light, tasting the good things from heaven, and having their part in the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
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With knowledge of the good word of God, and of the powers of the coming time,
6 and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt.
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And then let themselves be turned away, it is not possible for their hearts to be made new a second time; because they themselves put the Son of God on the cross again, openly shaming him.
7 Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
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For a land, drinking in the frequent rain and producing good plants for those for whom it is worked, has a blessing from God:
8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.
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But if it sends up thorns and evil plants, it is of no use and is ready to be cursed; its only end is to be burned.
9 Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation.
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But, my loved ones, though we say this, we are certain that you have better things in you, things which go with salvation;
10 For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.
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For God is true, and will not put away from him the memory of your work and of your love for his name, in the help which you gave and still give to the saints.
11 And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end,
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And it is our desire that you may all keep the same high purpose in certain hope to the end:
12 so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
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So that you may not be slow in heart, but may take as your example those to whom God has given their heritage, because of their faith and their long waiting.
13 When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
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For when God made his oath to Abraham, because there was no greater oath, he made it by himself,
14 saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you."
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Saying, Be certain that I will give you my blessing, and make your numbers very great.
15 And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.
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And so, when he had been waiting calmly for a long time, God's word to him was put into effect.
16 Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute.
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For men at all times make their oaths by what is greater; and any argument is ended by the decision of the oath.
17 In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath,
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So that when it was God's desire to make it specially clear to those who by his word were to have the heritage, that his purpose was fixed, he made it more certain with an oath;
18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.
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So that we, who have gone in flight from danger to the hope which has been put before us, may have a strong comfort in two unchanging things, in which it is not possible for God to be false;
19 We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain,
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And this hope is like a strong band for our souls, fixed and certain, and going in to that which is inside the veil;
20 where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
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Where Jesus has gone before us, as a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.