Study Desk

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also ^(a)lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us ^(b)run with ^(c)endurance the race that is set before us,

^[a]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the ^[b](d)author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him ^(e)endured the cross, ^(f)despising the shame, and has ^(g)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For ^(h)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^[c](i)and lose heart.

^(j)You have not yet resisted ^[d](k)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "^(l) My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord , Nor ^(m) faint when you are reproved by Him ;

⁽ⁿ⁾ For those ^(o) whom the Lord loves He disciplines , And He scourges every son whom He receives ."

It is for discipline that you endure; ^(p)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

But if you are without discipline, ^(q)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Furthermore, we had ^[e]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we ^(r)respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to ^(s)the Father of ^[f]spirits, and ^(t)live?

For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, ^(u)so that we may share His holiness.

All discipline ^(v)for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the ^(w)peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Therefore, ^[g](x)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

and ^(y)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather ^(z)be healed.

^(aa)Pursue peace with all men, and the ^(ab)sanctification without which no one will ^(ac)see the Lord.

See to it that no one ^(ad)comes short of the grace of God; that no ^(ae)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be ^(af)defiled;

that there be no ^(ag)immoral or ^(ah)godless person like Esau, ^(ai)who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

For you know that even afterwards, ^(aj)when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

^(ak)For you have not come to ^(al)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind,

and to the ^(am)blast of a trumpet and the ^(an)sound of words which sound was such that those who heard ^(ao)begged that no further word be spoken to them.

For they could not bear the command, "^(ap) If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned ."

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "^(aq)I am full of fear and trembling."

But ^(ar)you have come to Mount Zion and to ^(as)the city of ^(at)the living God, ^(au)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(av)myriads of ^[h]angels,

to the general assembly and ^(aw)church of the firstborn who ^(ax)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, ^(ay)the Judge of all, and to the ^(az)spirits of the righteous made perfect,

and to Jesus, the ^(ba)mediator of a new covenant, and to the ^(bb)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than ^(bc)the blood of Abel.

^(bd)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is ^(be)speaking. For ^(bf)if those did not escape when they ^(bg)refused him who ^(bh)warned them on earth, ^[i]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who ^(bi)warns from heaven.

And ^(bj)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "^(bk) Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven ."

This expression, "Yet once more," denotes ^(bl)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we receive a ^(bm)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us ^[j]show gratitude, by which we may ^(bn)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

for ^(bo)our God is a consuming fire.