Hebrews 12:1-17

¶ Therefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, leaving behind all the weight of the sin which surrounds us, let us run with patience the race that is set before us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who having been offered joy, endured the cross,{Gr. stauros-stake} despising the shame and was seated at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied in your souls and faint. ¶ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, fighting against sin. And ye have quite forgotten the consolation which speaks unto you as unto sons, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art reproved of him: for whom the Lord loves, he chastens and scourges everyone whom he receives as a son. If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father does not chasten? But if ye are without chastisement, of which all the sons are partakers, then ye are bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; is it not much better to be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and we shall live? For they verily for a few days chastened us as it seemed good unto them, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. It is true that no chastening at present seems to be cause for joy, but rather for grief; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are exercised by it. Therefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight steps unto your feet, so that which is lame will not turn out of the way, but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord: looking diligently that no one deviate from the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up impede you, and thereby many be defiled, lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, desiring to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.