1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set before us.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not take lightly the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when you are reproved by Him."

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He chastises every son He accepts.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If you endure discipline, God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 Our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few days as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Therefore, strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 Make sure that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought it with tears.

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, that is burning with fire, to darkness, gloom, and a storm,

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 to a trumpet blast or a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,

And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."

For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 to the assembly of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

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

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 The words "once more" indicate the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

For our God is a consuming fire.