Hebrews 6

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Therefore, let us leave behind the basic teaching about Christ and advance to maturity, without laying the foundation all over again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,	1 Therefore, interrupting an explanation of the basics of Christ, let us consider what is more advanced, not presenting again the fundamentals of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 instruction about baptisms and laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.	2 of the doctrine of baptism, and also of the imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And we shall do this, if only God permits.	3 And we shall do this, if indeed God permits it.
4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the holy Spirit	4 For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have even tasted of the heavenly gift, and have become sharers in the Holy Spirit,
5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,	5 who, despite having tasted the good Word of God and the virtues of the future age, have yet fallen away,
6 and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt.	6 to be renewed again to penance, since they are crucifying again in themselves the Son of God and are still maintaining pretenses.
7 Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God.	7 For the earth accepts a blessing from God, by drinking in the rain that often falls upon it, and by producing plants that are useful to those by whom it is cultivated.
8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and finally burned.	8 But whatever brings forth thorns and briers is rejected, and is closest to what is accursed; their consummation is in combustion.
9 But we are sure in your regard, beloved, of better things related to salvation, even though we speak in this way.	9 But from you, most beloved, we are confident that there will be things better and closer to salvation; even though we speak in this way.
10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones.	10 For God is not unjust, such that he would forget your work and the love that you have shown in his name. For you have ministered, and you continue to minister, to the saints.
11 We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end,	11 Yet we desire that each one of you display the same solicitude toward the fulfillment of hope, even unto the end,
12 so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.	12 so that you may not be slow to act, but instead may be imitators of those who, through faith and patience, shall inherit the promises.
13 When God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, "he swore by himself,"	13 For God, in making promises to Abraham, swore by himself, (because he had no one greater by whom he might swear),
14 and said, "I will indeed bless you and multiply" you.	14 saying: “Blessing, I shall bless you, and multiplying, I shall multiply you.”
15 And so, after patient waiting, he obtained the promise.	15 And in this way, by enduring patiently, he secured the promise.
16 Human beings swear by someone greater than themselves; for them an oath serves as a guarantee and puts an end to all argument.	16 For men swear by what is greater than themselves, and an oath as confirmation is the end of all their controversy.
17 So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath,	17 In this matter, God, wanting to reveal more thoroughly the immutability of his counsel to the heirs of the promise, interposed an oath,
18 so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us.	18 so that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest solace: we who have fled together so as to hold fast to the hope set before us.
19 This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil,	19 This we have as an anchor of the soul, safe and sound, which advances even to the interior of the veil,
20 where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.	20 to the place where the forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf, so as to become the High Priest for eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek.