Hebrews 12 - Amplified Bible(AMP)

Jesus, the Example

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,

2[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

4You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

5and you have forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons,

“My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord,

And do not lose heart and give up when you are corrected by Him;

6For the Lord disciplines and corrects those whom He loves,

And He punishes every son whom He receives and welcomes.”

7You must submit to discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we submitted and respected them; shall we not much more willingly submit to the Father of spirits, and live?

10For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short time as seemed best to them; but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12So then, strengthen hands that are weak and knees that tremble.

13Cut through and make smooth, straight paths for your feet, so that the leg which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather may be healed.

14 Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

15See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

16and that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

17For you know that later on, when he wanted his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

18For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm,

19and to the blast of a trumpet and a sound of words those who heard it begged that nothing more be said to them.

20For they could not bear the command, “If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”

21In fact, so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, “I am filled with fear and trembling.”

22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,

23and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect,

24and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks, a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

25See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven?

26His voice shook the earth then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”

27Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken—that is, of that which has been created—so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe;

29for our God is a consuming fire.