| 1 | 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 , and of faith toward God , |
| 2 | Of the doctrine of baptisms , and of laying on of hands , and of resurrection of the dead , and of eternal judgment . |
| 3 | And this will we do , if God permit . |
| 4 | 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 | And have tasted the good word of God , and the powers of the world to come , |
| 6 | 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 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 accompany salvation , though we thus speak . |
| 10 | For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love , which ye have shewed toward his name , in that ye have ministered to the saints , and do minister . |
| 11 | And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end : |
| 12 | That ye be not slothful , but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises . |
| 13 | 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 | And so , after he had patiently endured , he obtained the promise . |
| 16 | For men verily swear by the greater : and an oath for confirmation [is] to them an end of all strife . |
| 17 | Wherein God , willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel , confirmed [it] by an oath : |
| 18 | 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 us : |
| 19 | Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul , both sure and stedfast , and which entereth into that within the veil ; |
| 20 | Whither the forerunner is for us entered , [even] Jesus , made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec . |
