4 who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 5 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony 6 of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 7,8 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilder9 ness: when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in 11 their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, 12 They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of 13 you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through 14 the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. 15 While it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as 16 in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not 17 all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilder18 ness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to 19 them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the Gospel 2 preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, 33 not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the 4 world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God 5 did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they 6 shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken 9, 10 of another day. There remaineth therefore a 6 rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the 12 same example of 7 unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts 13 and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 SEEING then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the 15 heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; 16 but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 8 5 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can 2 have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that 8 he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as 1 Gr. If they shall enter. 2 Gr. the word of hearing. 3 Or; because they were not united by faith to. 4 Or, the Gospel was first preached, 5 That is, Joshua. 6 Or, keeping of a sabbath. 7 Or, disobedience. 8 Or, can reasonably bear with. As 5 was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest; 6 but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee. he saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and 8 was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience 9 by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author 10 of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are 12 dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; 13 and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk 2 is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are 3 of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, 2 and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, 3 and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, 4 if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5,6 and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them 6 by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accom10 pany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full 12 assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them 13 who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15, 16 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of 17 all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of 18 promise the immutability of his counsel, 7 confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before 19 us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, 20 and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 FOR this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to 2 whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of 3 peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest contínually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham 5 gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the 1 Or, for his piety. 2 Gr. hath no experience. 4 Or, of an habit, or, perfection. 5 Or, the word of the beginning of Christ. 7 Gr. interposed himself by an oath. 8 Gr. without pedigree. people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of 6 the loins of Abraham: but he whose descent is not counted from them received 7 tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom 9 it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth 10 tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of 13 the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, 14 of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec 16 there ariseth another Priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal com17 mandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the 19 weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect; " but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20, 21 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made Priest; (for those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the 22 order of Melchisedec :) by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testa 23 ment. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue 24 by reason of death: but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an un25 changeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them 5 to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate 27 from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the 28 people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. 6 8 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the 2 heavens; a minister 7 of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is 4 of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according 5 to the law who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to 6 thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the Mediator of a better 9 covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been 8 sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel 9 and with the house of Judah : not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded 10 them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the 1 Or, pedigree. 2 Or, but it was the bringing in. 3 Or, without swearing of an oath, 4 Or, which passeth not from 5 Or, evermore. 6 Gr. perfected. 7 Or, of holy things. 8 Or, they are priests. 9 Or, testament. HEBREWS IX. A.D. 61. 1 house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they 11 shall be to me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from 12 the least to the greatest. their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and 13 9 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Then verily the first covenant had also 3 ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the 2 candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that 5 budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the 7 first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for 8 himself, and for the errors of the people: the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first 9 tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did 10 the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal 5 ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this 12 building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling 14 the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without 6 spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity 7 be the death of the 17 testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18, 19 Whereupon neither the first testament was 8 dedicated without blood. when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and 9 scarlet wool, and hyssop, For 20 and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the 21 testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with 22 blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices 24 than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the 25 presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high 26 priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27, 28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 1 Gr. give. 2 Or, upon. 3 Or, ceremonies. 4 Or, holy. 5 Or, riles, or, ceremonies. 6 Or, faul!. 7 Or, be brought in. 9 Or, purple. 10 191 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year 2 continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then I would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should 3 have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou 6 wouldest not, but a body 2 hast thou prepared me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices 7 for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of 8 the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, nei9 ther hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the 10 second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same 12 sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man, after he had offered 13 one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from hence14 forth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, 17 I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 3 and 18 their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 HAVING therefore, brethren, 4 boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood 20 of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through 21 the vail, that is to say, his flesh; and having an High Priest over the house of God; 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts 23 sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful 24 that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to 25 good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye'see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, 27 there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of 28 judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that 29 despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the 30 Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his 31 people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, 33 ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of 34 them that were so used, For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in 35 heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might 37 receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, 38 and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, 29 my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 1 Or, they would have ceased 3 Some copies have, Then he 4 Or, liberty. 5 Or, new made. 6 Or, that ye have in yourselves, or, for yourselves. |