Hebrews 12

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us	1 Furthermore, since we also have so great a cloud of witnesses over us, let us set aside every burden and sin which may surround us, and advance, through patience, to the struggle offered to us.
2 while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.	2 Let us gaze upon Jesus, as the Author and the completion of our faith, who, having joy laid out before him, endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and who now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.	3 So then, meditate upon him who endured such adversity from sinners against himself, so that you may not become weary, failing in your souls.
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.	4 For you have not yet resisted unto blood, while striving against sin.
5 You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him;	5 And you have forgotten the consolation which speaks to you like sons, saying: “My son, do not be willing to neglect the discipline of the Lord. Neither should you become weary, while being rebuked by him.”
6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges."	6 For whomever the Lord loves, he chastises. And every son whom he accepts, he scourges.
7 Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?	7 Persevere in discipline. God presents you to himself as sons. But what son is there, whom his father does not correct?
8 If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.	8 But if you are without that discipline in which all have become sharers, then you are of adultery, and you are not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live?	9 Then, too, we have certainly had the fathers of our flesh as instructors, and we reverenced them. Should we not obey the Father of spirits all the more, and so live?
10 They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.	10 And indeed, for a few days and according to their own wishes, they instructed us. But he does so to our benefit, so that we may receive his sanctification.
11 At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.	11 Now every discipline, in the present time, does not seem a gladness, of course, but a grief. But afterwards, it will repay a most peaceful fruit of justice to those who become trained in it.
12 So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.	12 Because of this, lift up your lazy hands and your lax knees,
13 Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.	13 and straighten the path of your feet, so that no one, being lame, may wander astray, but instead may be healed.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.	14 Pursue peace with everyone. Pursue sanctity, without which no one shall see God.
15 See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled,	15 Be contemplative, lest anyone lack the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up and impede you, and by it, many might be defiled,
16 that no one be an immoral or profane person like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.	16 lest any fornicator or worldly person be like Esau, who, for the sake of one meal, sold his birthright.
17 For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit his father's blessing, he was rejected because he found no opportunity to change his mind, even though he sought the blessing with tears.	17 For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected. For he found no place for repentance, even though he had sought it with tears.
18 You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm	18 But you have not drawn near to a tangible mountain, or a burning fire, or a whirlwind, or a mist, or a storm,
19 and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them,	19 or the sound of a trumpet, or a voice of words. Those who had experienced these things excused themselves, lest the Word be spoken to them.
20 for they could not bear to hear the command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned."	20 For they could not bear what was said, and so, if even a beast would have touched the mountain, it would have been stoned.
21 Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling."	21 And what was seen was so terrible that even Moses said: “I am terrified, and so, I tremble.”
22 No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering,	22 But you have drawn near to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of Angels,
23 and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect,	23 and to the Church of the first-born, those who have been inscribed in the heavens, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,
24 and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.	24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament, and to a sprinkling of blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much more in our case if we turn away from the one who warns from heaven.	25 Be careful not to reject the One who is speaking. For if those who rejected him who was speaking upon the earth were not able to escape, so much more we who might turn away from the One who is speaking to us from heaven.
26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, "I will once more shake not only earth but heaven."	26 Then, his voice moved the earth. But now, he makes a promise, saying: “There is still one more time, and then I will move, not only the earth, but also heaven itself.”
27 That phrase, "once more," points to (the) removal of shaken, created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.	27 And so, in saying, “There is still one more time,” he declares the transfer of the moveable things of creation, so that those things which are immoveable may remain.
28 Therefore, we who are receiving the unshakable kingdom should have gratitude, with which we should offer worship pleasing to God in reverence and awe.	28 Thus, in receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace. So, through grace, let us be of service, by pleasing God with fear and reverence.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.	29 For our God is a consuming fire.