Hebrews

Explains Jesus' superiority and encourages believers to persevere in faith amid persecution.

Chapter 12

1 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,

*Since we have many people watching us, let's get rid of anything holding us back and don't give in to temptation. Then, we can patiently run the race in front of us.

2 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.

*Look to Jesus, the one who started and completed our belief. He endured the cross for the happiness waiting for him and ignored the embarrassment. Now, he sits next to God's throne.

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

*Think about the person who faced so much opposition from sinners, so you don't get tired or lose hope in your thoughts.

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

*You haven't yet fought strongly enough against sin, even risking your life.

5 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:

*Don't forget the advice that treats you like a child: "My child, don't disrespect the Lord's discipline or lose hope when He corrects you."

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

*For those the Lord loves, he disciplines them and punishes each son he accepts.

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

*If you can handle discipline, God treats you like a son; because a real son doesn't get punished by their father.

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

*But if you don't get disciplined like everyone else, then you are not true children.

9 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?

*In addition, we had earthly parents who disciplined us and we respected them. Shouldn't we even more submit to the Spirit's Father and live?

10 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.

*They really punished us for a short time based on their desires, but he did it for our benefit so we could share in his holiness.

11 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.

*Now, it doesn't feel happy when we face discipline. It feels sad. But later, this discipline brings a peaceful and good result for those who learn from it.

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

*So, raise the hands that are drooping and the weak knees.

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

*Create clear paths for your feet, so the weak one stays on track and gets better, instead of being turned away.

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

*Pursue peace and holiness with everyone, as it's necessary to meet God; otherwise, you won't see Him.

15 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;

*Check carefully so no one misses out on God's kindness; make sure a bitter heart doesn't grow and cause problems for everyone.

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

*To avoid people who break moral rules or act disrespectfully, like Esau, who traded away his rightful inheritance for a small amount of food.

17 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.

*You know that later, when he tried to get the blessing, he was turned away. He couldn't find a way to say sorry, even though he searched really hard with lots of tears.

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

*You have not arrived at the mountain that could be touched and was on fire, nor to darkness, blackness, and a storm.

19 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:

*And the sound of a horn, and people speaking; those who heard asked not to hear the words again.

20 (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:

*They couldn't handle what was ordered, and if even an animal touched the mountain, it would be killed or pierced by a spear.

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

*The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am extremely afraid and shaking."

22 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,

*But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city where God lives, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to a countless number of angels.

23 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,

*To the big group of believers and the special church, listed in heaven, and to the God who judges everyone, and to the improved spirits of good people.

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

*To Jesus, the one who brings the new agreement, and to his blood that washes us clean, which says better things than Abel's blood.

25 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:

*Don't reject the one who speaks. If those who ignored the person speaking on Earth faced consequences, how much more will we face if we ignore the one speaking from Heaven?

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

*Whose voice once made the ground tremble; now, he has promised that he will not just shake the earth again, but also the sky.

27 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.

*This means that the phrase "Yet once more" is about getting rid of things that can easily change or disappear, like things we make, so only the things that stay strong and don't change will remain.

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

*Because we receive a kingdom that won't change, let's get God's help to properly worship Him with respect and holy fear.

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

*Our God is a fiery judge.

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