1 Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teachings about Christ, let us move on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God,

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And we will do this, if God permits.

And this will we do, if God permit.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 and who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age,

And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 if they fall away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God again for themselves and subjecting Him to public disgrace.

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the land that drinks in the rain that often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God.

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, 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.

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9 But we are confident of better things concerning you, dear friends—things that accompany salvation—even though we speak in this way.

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and the love you have shown for His name, having served and continuing to serve the saints.

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that your hope may be fully realized.

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 Then you will not become sluggish, but will imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 saying, 'Surely I will bless you abundantly and multiply your descendants greatly.'

Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise.

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by 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.

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 where Jesus, the forerunner for us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.