| 1 | Wherefore, leaving the word of the beginning of the Christ, let us go on [to what belongs] to full growth, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God, |
| 2 | of [the] doctrine of washings, and of imposition 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 to renew again to repentance those once enlightened, and who have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of [the] Holy Spirit, |
| 5 | and have tasted the good word of God, and [the] works of power of [the] age to come, |
| 6 | and have fallen away, crucifying for themselves [as they do] the Son of God, and making a show of [him]. |
| 7 | For ground which drinks the rain which comes often upon it, and produces useful herbs for those for whose sakes also it is tilled, partakes of blessing from God; |
| 8 | but bringing forth thorns and briars, it is found worthless and nigh to a curse, whose end [is] to be burned. |
| 9 | But we are persuaded concerning you, beloved, better things, and connected with salvation, even if we speak thus. |
| 10 | For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work, and the love which ye have shewn to his name, having ministered to the saints, and [still] ministering. |
| 11 | But we desire earnestly that each one of you shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end; |
| 12 | that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience have been inheritors of the promises. |
| 13 | For God, having promised to Abraham, since he had no greater to swear by, swore by himself, |
| 14 | saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee; |
| 15 | and thus, having had long patience, he got the promise. |
| 16 | For men indeed swear by a greater, and with them the oath is a term to all dispute, as making matters sure. |
| 17 | Wherein God, willing to shew more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose, intervened by an oath, |
| 18 | that by two unchangeable things, in which [it was] impossible that God should lie, we might have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us, |
| 19 | which we have as anchor of the soul, both secure and firm, and entering into that within the veil, |
| 20 | where Jesus is entered as forerunner for us, become for ever a high priest according to the order of Melchisedec. |
