Hebrews 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Let us beware, then: since the promise never lapses, none of you must think that he has come too latefor the promise of entering his place of rest.	1 Therefore, let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed.
2 We received the gospel exactly as they did; but hearing the message did them no good because theydid not share the faith of those who did listen.	2 For in fact we have received the good news just as they did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened.
3 We, however, who have faith, are entering a place of rest, as in the text: And then in my anger I sworethat they would never enter my place of rest. Now God's work was al finished at the beginning of the world;	3 For we who believed enter into (that) rest, just as he has said: "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter into my rest,'" and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world.
4 as one text says, referring to the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day after all the work hehad been doing.	4 For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works";
5 And, again, the passage above says: They will never reach my place of rest.	5 and again, in the previously mentioned place, "They shall not enter into my rest."
6 It remains the case, then, that there would be some people who would reach it, and since those whofirst heard the good news were prevented from entering by their refusal to believe,	6 Therefore, since it remains that some will enter into it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,
7 God fixed another day, a Today, when he said through David in the text already quoted: If only youwould listen to him today; do not harden your hearts.	7 he once more set a day, "today," when long afterwards he spoke through David, as already quoted: "Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 'Harden not your hearts.'"
8 If Joshua had led them into this place of rest, God would not later have spoken of another day.	8 Now if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterwards of another day.
9 There must stil be, therefore, a seventh-day rest reserved for God's people,	9 Therefore, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God.
10 since to enter the place of rest is to rest after your work, as God did after his.	10 And whoever enters into God's rest, rests from his own works as God did from his.
11 Let us, then, press forward to enter this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example ofrefusal to believe and be lost.	11 Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.
12 The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts more incisively than any two-edged sword: itcan seek out the place where soul is divided from spirit, or joints from marrow; it can pass judgement on secretemotions and thoughts.	12 Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
13 No created thing is hidden from him; everything is uncovered and stretched fully open to the eyes ofthe one to whom we must give account of ourselves.	13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
14 Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highestheaven, we must hold firm to our profession of faith.	14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
15 For the high priest we have is not incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but has been put tothe test in exactly the same way as ourselves, apart from sin.	15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.
16 Let us, then, have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace whenwe are in need of help.	16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.