Hebrews 12

God’s Discipline Proves His Love

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.#12:2a Or Jesus, the originator and perfecter of our faith. Because of the joy#12:2b Or Instead of the joy. awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;#12:3 Some manuscripts read Think of how people hurt themselves by opposing him. then you won’t become weary and give up. 4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

5And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?#12:5a Greek sons; also in 12:7, 8. He said,

“My child,#12:5b Greek son; also in 12:6, 7. don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and don’t give up when he corrects you.

6For the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”#12:5-6 Prov 3:11-12 (Greek version).

7As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?#12:9 Or and really live?

10For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

A Call to Listen to God

14Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 16Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. 17You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.

18You have not come to a physical mountain,#12:18 Greek to something that can be touched. to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. 19For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 20They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”#12:20 Exod 19:13. 21Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”#12:21 Deut 9:19.

22No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. 23You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

25Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! 26When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”#12:26 Hag 2:6. 27This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

28Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 29For our God is a devouring fire.

Currently Selected:

Hebrews 12: NLT

Highlight

Copy

Compare

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

For more information about the NLT:

Learn More About New Living Translation

Hebrews 12

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and #See Eph. 4:22sin which clings so closely, and #See 1 Cor. 9:24let us run #See ch. 10:36with endurance the race that is #ch. 6:18set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, #Luke 24:26; Phil. 2:8; [Isa. 53:11] who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising #Ps. 22:6, 7; 69:19; Isa. 53:3the shame, and #ch. 1:3is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

3 # [ Matt. 10:24; Rev. 2:3 ] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or #Gal. 6:9fainthearted. 4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

# Cited from Prov. 3:11, 12 “My son, #Job 5:17do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

6For #Ps. 94:12; 119:67, 75; Rev. 3:19the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7It is for discipline that you have to endure. #Deut. 8:5; 2 Sam. 7:14; [Prov. 13:24; 19:18; 23:13]God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8If you are left without discipline, #[1 Pet. 5:9]in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to #See Num. 16:22the Father of spirits #[Isa. 38:16]and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, #[2 Pet. 1:4]; See Lev. 11:44that we may share his holiness. 11#[1 Pet. 1:6] For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields #James 3:17, 18the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12Therefore #Cited from Isa. 35:3; [Job 4:3, 4]lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13and #Prov. 4:26, 27make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint #James 5:16; [Gal. 6:1]but rather be healed. 14#See Rom. 14:19Strive for peace with everyone, and for the #1 Thess. 4:7holiness #Matt. 5:8; [2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 5:5; Rev. 21:27; 22:4]without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one #ch. 4:1; [2 Cor. 6:1; Gal. 5:4] fails to obtain the grace of God; that no #Deut. 29:18“root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16that no one is #ch. 13:4; Gen. 25:33sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17For you know that #Gen. 27:34, 36, 38afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

18For you have not come to #Ex. 19:18; 20:18; Deut. 4:11; 5:22; [2 Cor. 3:9]what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19and #Ex. 19:16, 19the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words #Ex. 20:19; Deut. 5:5; 18:16made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20For they could not endure the order that was given, #Cited from Ex. 19:12, 13“If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21Indeed, #[Ex. 19:16; Deut. 9:19]so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22But you have come to #Rev. 14:1Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, #See Gal. 4:26the heavenly Jerusalem, and to #Jude 14innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to #[Ex. 4:22] the assembly#12:23 Or church of the firstborn who are #Luke 10:20enrolled in heaven, and to #Gen. 18:25God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, #ch. 8:6; 9:15the mediator of a new covenant, and to #See ch. 10:22the sprinkled blood #ch. 11:4; Gen. 4:10that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For #See ch. 2:3if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26At that time #Ex. 19:18his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, #Cited from Hag. 2:6; [Hag. 2:21]“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates #See Ps. 102:26the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore let us be grateful for receiving #Dan. 2:44a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus #ch. 13:15let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29for our #Cited from Deut. 4:24; See 2 Thess. 1:8God is a consuming fire.

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Compare

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Learn More About English Standard Version 2025