1 We|strong="G2249" have|strong="G2192" all|strong="G3956" these|strong="G3588" great|strong="G3956" people|strong="G3956" around us as|strong="G2532" examples. Their|strong="G2532" lives tell us what|strong="G3588" faith means|strong="G1223". So|strong="G2532" we|strong="G2249", too|strong="G2532", should|strong="G2532" run|strong="G5143" the|strong="G3956" race|strong="G0073" that|strong="G3956" is|strong="G3588" before|strong="G4295" us and|strong="G2532" never quit. We|strong="G2249" should|strong="G2532" remove from|strong="G2532" our|strong="G2532" lives anything|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3956" would|strong="G2532" slow us down and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" sin|strong="G0266" that|strong="G3956" so|strong="G2532" often makes us fall.
2 We|strong="G3739" must|strong="G2706" never stop looking to|strong="G1519" Jesus|strong="G2424". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2316" the|strong="G3588" leader of|strong="G2316" our|strong="G2316" faith|strong="G4102", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2316" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3739" who|strong="G3739" makes our|strong="G2316" faith|strong="G4102" complete. He|strong="G2532" suffered death on|strong="G1722" a|strong="G3739" cross|strong="G4716". But|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" accepted the|strong="G3588" shame|strong="G0152" of|strong="G2316" the|strong="G3588" cross|strong="G4716" as|strong="G1519" if|strong="G2532" it|strong="G0846" were|strong="G3739" nothing because|strong="G1722" of|strong="G2316" the|strong="G3588" joy|strong="G5479" he|strong="G2532" could see|strong="G0872" waiting for|strong="G1519" him|strong="G0846". And|strong="G2532" now|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2316" sitting|strong="G2523" at|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" right|strong="G1188" side of|strong="G2316" God’s|strong="G2316" throne|strong="G2362".
3 Think|strong="G0357" about|strong="G1519" Jesus. He patiently|strong="G5278" endured|strong="G5278" the|strong="G3588" angry insults that|strong="G2443" sinful|strong="G0268" people|strong="G5590" were|strong="G3588" shouting at|strong="G1519" him|strong="G2443". Think|strong="G0357" about|strong="G1519" him|strong="G2443" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" you|strong="G5210" won’t|strong="G3361" get discouraged and|strong="G5590" stop|strong="G3361" trying.
4 You are|strong="G3588" struggling against|strong="G4314" sin|strong="G0266", but you have|strong="G0266" not|strong="G3768" had|strong="G3588" to|strong="G4314" give up your|strong="G3588" life for|strong="G4314" the|strong="G3588" cause.
5 You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G3588" children of|strong="G5207" God|strong="G0846", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" speaks words|strong="G2532" of|strong="G5207" comfort|strong="G3874" to|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210". You|strong="G5210" have|strong="G2532" forgotten|strong="G1585" these|strong="G3748" words|strong="G2532":
6 The|strong="G3956" Lord|strong="G2962" disciplines|strong="G3811" everyone|strong="G3956" he|strong="G3739" loves|strong="G0025";
7 So|strong="G1519" accept sufferings like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" father’s|strong="G3962" discipline|strong="G3809". God|strong="G2316" does|strong="G5101" these|strong="G3739" things|strong="G3739" to|strong="G1519" you|strong="G5210" like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" father|strong="G3962" correcting|strong="G3811" his|strong="G3739" children. You|strong="G5210" know that|strong="G3739" all|strong="G3588" children are|strong="G3739" disciplined|strong="G3811" by|strong="G1519" their|strong="G3739" fathers|strong="G3962".
8 So|strong="G2532", if|strong="G1487" you|strong="G3739" never|strong="G3756" receive the|strong="G3956" discipline|strong="G3809" that|strong="G3739" every|strong="G3956" child must|strong="G1510" have|strong="G1510", you|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" true children|strong="G3541" and|strong="G2532" don’t|strong="G3756" really belong|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2532" God.
9 We|strong="G2249" have|strong="G2192" all|strong="G3588" had|strong="G2192" fathers|strong="G3962" here on|strong="G2198" earth|strong="G4561" who|strong="G3588" corrected us with|strong="G2532" discipline|strong="G3810". And|strong="G2532" we|strong="G2249" respected|strong="G1788" them. So|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" even|strong="G2532" more|strong="G3123" important that|strong="G4151" we|strong="G2249" accept discipline|strong="G3810" from|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" Father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G4151" our|strong="G2532" spirits|strong="G4151". If|strong="G2532" we|strong="G2249" do|strong="G2192" this|strong="G3588", we|strong="G2249" will|strong="G4183" have|strong="G2192" life|strong="G2198".
10 Our|strong="G2596" fathers on|strong="G1909" earth disciplined|strong="G3811" us|strong="G1519" for|strong="G1063" a|strong="G1909" short|strong="G3641" time|strong="G2250" in|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" way|strong="G2596" they|strong="G0846" thought|strong="G1380" was|strong="G3588" best|strong="G1380". But|strong="G1161" God|strong="G0846" disciplines|strong="G3811" us|strong="G1519" to|strong="G1519" help us|strong="G1519" so|strong="G1161" that|strong="G0846" we|strong="G1161" can be holy like|strong="G2596" him|strong="G0846".
11 We|strong="G1161" don’t|strong="G3756" enjoy discipline|strong="G3809" when|strong="G1161" we|strong="G1161" get it|strong="G0846". It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" painful|strong="G3077". But|strong="G1161" later|strong="G5305", after|strong="G1161" we|strong="G1161" have|strong="G1510" learned our|strong="G3956" lesson from|strong="G1223" it|strong="G0846", we|strong="G1161" will|strong="G1510" enjoy the|strong="G3956" peace that|strong="G3956" comes|strong="G1510" from|strong="G1223" doing what|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" right|strong="G1343".
12 You|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" become weak|strong="G3935", so|strong="G2532" make yourselves strong again|strong="G0461".
13 Live in|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" right way so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" saved and|strong="G2532" your|strong="G2532" weakness will|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3361" cause|strong="G4160" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G2443" be|strong="G2532" lost.
14 Try to|strong="G2532" live in|strong="G3956" peace|strong="G1515" with|strong="G3326" everyone|strong="G3956". And|strong="G2532" try to|strong="G2532" keep your|strong="G2962" lives free from|strong="G1515" sin. Anyone|strong="G3762" whose|strong="G3739" life is|strong="G3739" not|strong="G3762" holy will|strong="G3739" never|strong="G3762" see|strong="G3708" the|strong="G3956" Lord|strong="G2962".
15 Be|strong="G2532" careful that|strong="G3778" no|strong="G3361" one|strong="G5100" fails to|strong="G2532" get God’s|strong="G2316" grace|strong="G5485". Be|strong="G2532" careful that|strong="G3778" no|strong="G3361" one|strong="G5100" loses their|strong="G0846" faith and|strong="G2532" becomes like|strong="G0846" a|strong="G2532" bitter weed growing among|strong="G0575" you|strong="G2532". Someone|strong="G5100" like|strong="G0846" that|strong="G3778" can ruin your|strong="G2532" whole group.
16 Be|strong="G5100" careful that|strong="G3739" no|strong="G3361" one|strong="G1520" commits sexual sin. And|strong="G1520" be|strong="G5100" careful that|strong="G3739" no|strong="G3361" one|strong="G1520" is|strong="G3739" like|strong="G5613" Esau|strong="G2269" and|strong="G1520" never|strong="G3361" thinks about|strong="G5613" God. As|strong="G5613" the|strong="G3588" oldest son, Esau|strong="G2269" would|strong="G5100" have|strong="G5100" inherited everything from|strong="G2228" his|strong="G1438" father. But|strong="G3361" he|strong="G3739" sold|strong="G0591" all|strong="G3588" that|strong="G3739" for|strong="G0473" a|strong="G5613" single|strong="G1520" meal|strong="G1035".
17 You|strong="G3754" remember|strong="G1492" that|strong="G3754" after|strong="G3326" Esau did|strong="G1492" this|strong="G3588", he|strong="G2532" wanted|strong="G2309" to|strong="G2309" get|strong="G2147" his|strong="G0846" father’s blessing|strong="G2129". He|strong="G2532" wanted|strong="G2309" that|strong="G3754" blessing|strong="G2129" so|strong="G2532" much that|strong="G3754" he|strong="G2532" cried. But|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" father refused|strong="G3756" to|strong="G2309" give him|strong="G0846" the|strong="G3588" blessing|strong="G2129", because|strong="G3754" Esau could|strong="G2147" find|strong="G2147" no|strong="G3756" way|strong="G0846" to|strong="G2309" change what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3748" done.
18 You|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3756" come|strong="G4334" to|strong="G2532" a|strong="G2532" place that can be|strong="G2532" seen and|strong="G2532" touched|strong="G5584", like the|strong="G2532" mountain the|strong="G2532" people of|strong="G2532" Israel saw, which|strong="G4442" was|strong="G2532" burning|strong="G2545" with|strong="G2532" fire|strong="G4442" and|strong="G2532" covered with|strong="G2532" darkness|strong="G2217", gloom|strong="G2217", and|strong="G2532" storms.
19 There|strong="G3739" is|strong="G3739" no|strong="G3361" sound|strong="G5456" of|strong="G3056" a|strong="G0191" trumpet|strong="G4536" or|strong="G2532" a|strong="G0191" voice|strong="G5456" speaking|strong="G3056" words|strong="G3056" like|strong="G0846" those|strong="G3588" they|strong="G0846" heard|strong="G0191". When|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" heard|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3588" voice|strong="G5456", they|strong="G0846" begged|strong="G3868" never|strong="G3361" to|strong="G2532" hear|strong="G0191" another word|strong="G3056".
20 They|strong="G2579" did not|strong="G3756" want to|strong="G3756" hear the|strong="G3588" command|strong="G1291": “If|strong="G2579" anything, even|strong="G2579" an animal, touches|strong="G2345" the|strong="G3588" mountain|strong="G3735", it|strong="G5342" must|strong="G3588" be|strong="G3756" killed with|strong="G5342" stones|strong="G3036".”
21 What|strong="G3588" they|strong="G2532" saw was|strong="G1510" so|strong="G2532" terrible|strong="G5398" that|strong="G3004" Moses|strong="G3475" said|strong="G3004", “I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G1510" shaking with|strong="G2532" fear|strong="G1790".”
22 But|strong="G0235" you|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" come|strong="G4334" to|strong="G2532" Mount|strong="G3735" Zion|strong="G4622", to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" city|strong="G4172" of|strong="G2316" the|strong="G2532" living|strong="G2198" God|strong="G2316", the|strong="G2532" heavenly|strong="G2032" Jerusalem|strong="G2419". You|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" come|strong="G4334" to|strong="G2532" a|strong="G2532" place where thousands|strong="G3461" of|strong="G2316" angels|strong="G0032" have|strong="G2532" gathered to|strong="G2532" celebrate.
23 You|strong="G1722" have|strong="G2532" come to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" meeting of|strong="G4151" God’s|strong="G2316" firstborn|strong="G4416" children. Their|strong="G2532" names are|strong="G3956" written in|strong="G1722" heaven|strong="G3772". You|strong="G1722" have|strong="G2532" come to|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316", the|strong="G3956" judge|strong="G2923" of|strong="G4151" all|strong="G3956" people|strong="G3956". And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G1722" have|strong="G2532" come to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" spirits|strong="G4151" of|strong="G4151" good people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3956" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" made|strong="G5048" perfect|strong="G5048".
24 You|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" come to|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G2424"—the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" brought the|strong="G3588" new|strong="G3501" agreement from|strong="G3844" God|strong="G2980" to|strong="G2532" his|strong="G2532" people|strong="G3588". You|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" come to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" sprinkled|strong="G4473" blood|strong="G0129" that|strong="G2980" tells us about|strong="G3588" better|strong="G2909" things|strong="G2980" than|strong="G3844" the|strong="G3588" blood|strong="G0129" of|strong="G0129" Abel|strong="G0006".
25 Be|strong="G3123" careful|strong="G0991" and|strong="G3772" don’t|strong="G3756" refuse|strong="G3868" to|strong="G1909" listen when|strong="G0991" God|strong="G4183" speaks|strong="G2980". Those|strong="G3588" people|strong="G4183" refused|strong="G3756" to|strong="G1909" listen to|strong="G1909" him|strong="G1565" when|strong="G0991" he|strong="G1565" warned|strong="G5537" them|strong="G1565" on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093". And|strong="G3772" they|strong="G1487" did not|strong="G3756" escape|strong="G1628". Now|strong="G0991" God|strong="G4183" is|strong="G3772" speaking|strong="G2980" from|strong="G0575" heaven|strong="G3772". So|strong="G3361" now|strong="G0991" it|strong="G1909" will|strong="G4183" be|strong="G3123" worse for|strong="G1063" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" refuse|strong="G3868" to|strong="G1909" listen to|strong="G1909" him|strong="G1565".
26 When|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" spoke|strong="G3004" before|strong="G3588", his|strong="G3739" voice|strong="G5456" shook|strong="G4579" the|strong="G3588" earth|strong="G1093". But|strong="G1161" now|strong="G1161" he|strong="G2532" has|strong="G3739" promised|strong="G1861", “Once|strong="G0530" again|strong="G2089" I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3739" shake|strong="G4579" the|strong="G3588" earth|strong="G1093", but|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3739" also|strong="G2532" shake|strong="G4579" heaven|strong="G3772".”
27 The|strong="G3588" words “once|strong="G0530" again|strong="G2089"” clearly show|strong="G4160" us|strong="G4160" that|strong="G2443" everything that|strong="G2443" was|strong="G3588" created|strong="G4160" will|strong="G4160" be|strong="G2089" destroyed—that|strong="G2443" is|strong="G3588", the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3588" that|strong="G2443" can|strong="G3306" be|strong="G2089" shaken|strong="G4531". And|strong="G1161" only what|strong="G3588" cannot|strong="G3361" be|strong="G2089" shaken|strong="G4531" will|strong="G4160" remain|strong="G3306".
28 So|strong="G2532" we|strong="G3739" should|strong="G2316" be|strong="G2532" thankful|strong="G5485" because|strong="G1223" we|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2192" a|strong="G2192" kingdom|strong="G0932" that|strong="G3739" cannot|strong="G0761" be|strong="G2532" shaken|strong="G0761". And|strong="G2532" because|strong="G1223" we|strong="G3739" are|strong="G3739" thankful|strong="G5485", we|strong="G3739" should|strong="G2316" worship|strong="G3000" God|strong="G2316" in|strong="G2316" a|strong="G2192" way|strong="G1223" that|strong="G3739" will|strong="G2316" please him|strong="G3739". We|strong="G3739" should|strong="G2316" do|strong="G2192" this|strong="G3588" with|strong="G3326" respect and|strong="G2532" fear,
29 because|strong="G1063" our|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316" is|strong="G2316" like a|strong="G2532" fire|strong="G4442" that|strong="G2316" can destroy us.