14[FOR THE] MATURE HOWEVER IS THE SOLID FOOD FOR THOSE THROUGH <THE> CONSTANT USE THE SENSES TRAINED WHO ARE HAVING [ABILITY] TO DISTINGUISH GOOD BOTH AND EVIL. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
1THEREFORE HAVING LEFT <THE> THE BEGINNING <THE> OF CHRIST [OF THE] TEACHING TO <THE> MATURITY WE MAY GO ON NOT AGAIN A FOUNDATION LAYING OF REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS AND FAITH IN GOD, A Call to Maturity 1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,*NoteCloseOr from acts that lead to death and of faith in God,
2ABOUT BAPTISMS ABOUT TEACHING, ABOUT LAYING ON THEN OF HANDS, ABOUT [THE] RESURRECTION BOTH OF [THE] DEAD AND ABOUT JUDGMENT ETERNAL. 2instruction about baptisms,*NoteCloseOr cleansing rites the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
4[IT IS] IMPOSSIBLE FOR TO THOSE ONCE HAVING BEEN ENLIGHTENED, HAVING TASTED THEN OF THE GIFT <THE> HEAVENLY AND PARTAKERS HAVING BECOME OF [THE] SPIRIT HOLY 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
5AND [THE] GOODNESS HAVING TASTED OF GOD’S DECLARATION [THE] POWER ALSO [OF THE] COMING AGE — 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—
6AND THEN HAVING FALLEN AWAY — AGAIN TO RESTORE [THEM] TO REPENTANCE CRUCIFYING IN THEMSELVES THE SON <THE> OF GOD AND SUBJECTING [HIM] TO OPEN SHAME. 6and then have fallen away— to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.
7LAND FOR <THE> HAVING DRUNK IN THE UPON IT COMING OFTEN RAIN AND PRODUCING VEGETATION USEFUL FOR THOSE FOR THE SAKE OF WHOM ALSO IT IS TILLED, PARTAKES OF BLESSING FROM <THE> GOD; 7For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.
8[THAT] BRINGING FORTH HOWEVER THORNS AND THISTLES [IS] WORTHLESS AND A CURSE NEAR TO, OF WHICH THE END [IS] UNTO BURNING. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.
9WE HAVE BEEN PERSUADED HOWEVER CONCERNING YOU, BELOVED, [OF] <THE> [THINGS] BETTER AND [THINGS] ACCOMPANYING SALVATION, IF EVEN LIKE THIS WE SPEAK. 9Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case— things that accompany salvation.
10NOT FOR UNJUST [IS] <THE> GOD TO FORGET THE WORK OF YOU AND THE LABOR THE LOVE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN TOWARD THE NAME OF HIM HAVING MINISTERED TO THE SAINTS AND [STILL] MINISTERING. 10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
11WE DESIRE NOW EACH OF YOU THE SAME TO SHOW EARNESTNESS TOWARD THE FULL ASSURANCE OF THE HOPE UNTO [THE] END; 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
12SO THAT NOT SLUGGISH YOU MAY BE, IMITATORS HOWEVER OF THOSE THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE INHERITING THE PROMISES. 12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
13<THE> FOR TO ABRAHAM HAVING MADE HIS PROMISE <THE> GOD, SINCE BY NO [ONE] HE HAD GREATER TO SWEAR, HE SWORE BY HIMSELF God’s Unchangeable Promise 13When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,
14SAYING; IF SURELY BLESSING I WILL BLESS YOU AND MULTIPLYING I WILL MULTIPLY YOU; 14saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.”*NoteCloseGenesis 22:17
15AND THUS HAVING WAITED PATIENTLY HE OBTAINED THE PROMISE. 15And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.
16MEN INDEED FOR BY [ONE] GREATER SWEAR, AND IN ALL THEIR DISPUTES FINALLY [COMES] TO CONFIRMATION IN THE OATH; 16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.
17IN WHICH MORE EXCESSIVE DESIRING <THE> GOD TO SHOW TO THE HEIRS OF THE PROMISE THE UNCHANGEABLENESS OF THE PURPOSE OF HIM GUARANTEED [IT] BY AN OATH, 17So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.
18SO THAT THROUGH TWO THINGS UNCHANGEABLE, IN WHICH [IT IS] IMPOSSIBLE TO LIE <THE> [FOR] GOD, STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT WE MAY HAVE <THE> HAVING FLED FOR REFUGE TO TAKE HOLD OF WHAT IS BEING SET BEFORE [US] HOPE; 18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
19WHICH AS AN ANCHOR WE HAVE OF THE SOUL SURE BOTH AND UNSHAKABLE AND ENTERING INTO THAT WITHIN THE VEIL, 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
20WHERE [THE] FORERUNNER FOR US HAS ENTERED JESUS ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK A HIGH PRIEST HAVING BECOME TO THE AGE. 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.