Hebrews 6

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Let us leave behind us then al the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to its completion,without going over the fundamental doctrines again: the turning away from dead actions, 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 the teaching about baptisms and the laying -- on of hands, about the resurrection of the dead andeternal judgement.	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 This, God willing, is what we propose to do.	3 And we shall do this, if indeed God permits it.
4 As for those people who were once brought into the light, and tasted the gift from heaven, and receiveda share of 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 goodness of God's message and the powers of the world 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 yet in spite of this have fal en away -- it is impossible for them to be brought to the freshness ofrepentance a second time, since they are crucifying the Son of God again for themselves, and making a publicexhibition of him.	6 to be renewed again to penance, since they are crucifying again in themselves the Son of God and are still maintaining pretenses.
7 A field that drinks up the rain that has fal en frequently on it, and yields the crops that are wanted by theowners who grew them, receives God's blessing;	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 one that grows brambles and thistles is worthless, and near to being cursed. It will end by beingburnt.	8 But whatever brings forth thorns and briers is rejected, and is closest to what is accursed; their consummation is in combustion.
9 But you, my dear friends -- in spite of what we have just said, we are sure you are in a better state andon the way to salvation.	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 God would not be so unjust as to forget al you have done, the love that you have for his name or theservices you have done, and are stil doing, for the holy people of God.	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 Our desire is that every one of you should go on showing the same enthusiasm til the ultimatefulfilment of your hope,	11 Yet we desire that each one of you display the same solicitude toward the fulfillment of hope, even unto the end,
12 never growing careless, but taking as your model those who by their faith and perseverance are heirsof 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, he swore by his own self, since there was no one greaterhe could swear by:	13 For God, in making promises to Abraham, swore by himself, (because he had no one greater by whom he might swear),
14 I will shower blessings on you and give you many descendants.	14 saying: “Blessing, I shall bless you, and multiplying, I shall multiply you.”
15 Because of that, Abraham persevered and received fulfilment of the promise.	15 And in this way, by enduring patiently, he secured the promise.
16 Human beings, of course, swear an oath by something greater than themselves, and between them,confirmation by an oath puts an end to al dispute.	16 For men swear by what is greater than themselves, and an oath as confirmation is the end of all their controversy.
17 In the same way, when God wanted to show the heirs of the promise even more clearly howunalterable his plan was, he conveyed it by 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 through two unalterable factors in which God could not be lying, we who have fled to him mighthave a vigorous encouragement to grasp the hope held out to 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 is the anchor our souls have, reaching right through inside the curtain	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 as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever, of theorder 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.