Hebrews 12

The author urges believers to run with patience the race set before them, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of their faith, who endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. He teaches that God chastens those He loves as a father disciplines his children, and warns that if the Israelites did not escape who refused him that spoke on earth, much less shall we escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,	Therefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2	Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.	looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3	For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.	For consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest You be wearied and faint in Your minds.
4	Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.	You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.
5	And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:	And You have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to You as to children, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when You are rebuked of Him;
6	For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.	for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."
7	If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?	If You endure chastening, God deals with You as with sons; for what son is He whom the father chastens not?
8	But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.	But if You be without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are You bastards, and not sons.
9	Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: how much more shall we be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?	Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; how much more shall we be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
10	For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.	For they truly for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.
11	Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.	Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised thereby.
12	Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;	Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13	And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.	and make straight paths for Your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14	Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:	Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,
15	Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;	looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble You, and thereby many be defiled;
16	Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.	lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17	For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.	For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18	For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,	For you are not come to the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19	And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:	and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice those who heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more
20	(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:	(for they could not endure that which was commanded, "And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart";
21	And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)	and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake");
22	But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,	but you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23	To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,	to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24	And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.	and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25	See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:	See that You refuse not Him who speaks. For if they escaped not who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven;
26	Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.	whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven."
27	And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.	And this word, "Yet once more," signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28	Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:	Therefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear;
29	For our God is a consuming fire.	for our God is a consuming fire.