A Large Crowd of Witnesses
1 Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. 2 We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God's throne! 3 So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won't get discouraged and give up.
4 None of you have yet been hurt in your battle against sin. 5 But you have forgotten that the Scriptures say to God's children,
“When the Lord punishes you,
don't make light of it,
and when he corrects you,
don't be discouraged.
6 The Lord corrects the people
he loves
and disciplines those
he calls his own.”
7 Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don't all parents correct their children? 8 God corrects all his children, and if he doesn't correct you, then you don't really belong to him. 9 Our earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn't it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us?
10 Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is. 11 It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.
12 Now stand up straight! Stop your knees from shaking 13 and walk a straight path. Then lame people will be healed, instead of getting worse.
Warning against Turning from God
14 Try to live at peace with everyone! Live a clean life. If you don't, you will never see the Lord. 15 Make sure no one misses out on God's wonderful kindness. Don't let anyone become bitter and cause trouble for the rest of you. 16 Watch out for immoral and ungodly people like Esau, who sold his future blessing for only one meal. 17 You know how he later wanted it back. But there was nothing he could do to change things, even though he begged his father and cried.
18 You have not come to a place like Mount Sinai that can be seen and touched. There is no flaming fire or dark cloud or storm 19 or trumpet sound. The people of Israel heard a voice speak. But they begged it to stop, 20 because they could not obey its commands. They were even told to kill any animal that touched the mountain. 21 The sight was so frightening that Moses said he shook with fear.
22 You have now come to Mount Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the city of the living God, where thousands and thousands of angels have come to celebrate. 23 Here you will find all of God's dearest children, whose names are written in heaven. And you will find God himself, who judges everyone. Here also are the spirits of those good people who have been made perfect. 24 And Jesus is here! He is the one who makes God's new agreement with us, and his sprinkled blood says much better things than the blood of Abel.
25 Make sure you obey the one who speaks to you. The people did not escape, when they refused to obey the one who spoke to them at Mount Sinai. Do you think you can possibly escape, if you refuse to obey the one who speaks to you from heaven? 26 When God spoke the first time, his voice shook only the earth. This time he has promised to shake the earth once again, and heaven too.
27 The words “once again” mean that these created things will someday be shaken and removed. Then what cannot be shaken will last. 28 We should be grateful we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect. 29 Our God is like a destructive fire!
1 Tāpēc tad arī, kur ap mums visapkārt tik liels pulks liecinieku, dosimies ar pacietību mums noliktajā sacīkstē, nolikdami visu smagumu un grēku, kas ap mums tinas, 2 un raudzīsimies uz Jēzu, ticības iesācēju un piepildītāju, kas Viņam sagaidāmā prieka vietā krustu ir pacietis, par kaunu nebēdādams, un ir nosēdies Dieva tronim pa labai rokai. 3 Ņemiet vērā To, kas panesis tādu pārestību no grēciniekiem, lai jūs nepiekūstat, savās dvēselēs pagurdami. 4 Jūs vēl neesat līdz asinīm pretim turējušies, cīnīdamies pret grēku, 5 un esat aizmirsuši pamācību, kas jūs kā bērnus uzrunā: mans bērns, nenicini Tā Kunga pārmācību un nepagursti, kad Viņš tevi norāj! 6 Jo, ko Tas Kungs mīl, to Viņš pārmāca un šauš katru bērnu, ko Viņš pieņem. - 7 Pacietiet pārmācību! Dievs izturas pret jums kā pret bērniem. Jo kur ir bērns, ko tēvs nepārmāca? 8 Bet, ja jūs esat bez pārmācības, ko visi ir saņēmuši, tad jūs esat nelikumīgi bērni un ne īsti bērni. 9 Tad nu mums mūsu miesīgie tēvi ir bijuši par pārmācītājiem, un mēs tos esam bijušies. Vai tad lai mēs daudz vairāk nepaklausītu garu Tēvam, lai dzīvotu? 10 Jo tie gan īsu laiku mūs ir pārmācījuši, kā tas viņiem šķita pareizi esam, bet Viņš - lai nāktu tas mums par labu, lai mēs kļūtu Viņa svētuma dalībnieki. 11 Bet katra pārmācība tai acumirklī neliekas mums par prieku, bet par bēdām, tomēr vēlāk, tanī vingrinātiem, dod taisnības miera augli. 12 Tāpēc paceliet gurdenās rokas un nespēcīgos ceļus 13 un staigājiet taisnas tekas savām kājām, lai tizlais nekluptu, bet gan tiktu dziedināts. 14 Dzenieties pēc miera ar visiem un pēc svētas dzīves, bez kā neviens neredzēs To Kungu, 15 pielūkodami, ka neviens nezaudētu Dieva žēlastību, lai nekāda rūgta sakne, augstu izaugusi, jums nekaitētu un daudzi ar to netiktu apgānīti, 16 lai neviens nebūtu netikls un zemisks kā Ēsavs, kas savu pirmdzimtību ir pārdevis par vienu ēdienu. 17 Jo jūs zināt, ka arī pēc tam, gribēdams iemantot apsolījumu, viņš tika atmests, jo netika dota iespēja atgriezties, lai gan ar asarām viņš to meklēja. 18 Jo jūs neesat pienākuši pie kalna, kas rokām taustāms, pie degošas uguns un mākoņu tumsas un vētras, 19 pie bazūnes skaņas un vārda balss, par ko tie, kas dzirdējuši, ir lūguši, lai viņiem vairs nekas netiktu teikts. 20 Jo tie nevarēja panest to, kas bija pavēlēts: ja arī kustonis pieskaras kalnam, tas akmeņiem jānomētā, - 21 un tik briesmīga bija parādība, ka Mozus teica: es esmu izbijies un drebu. - 22 Bet jūs esat tuvojušies Ciānas kalnam un dzīvā Dieva pilsētai, debesu Jeruzālemei un eņģeļu neskaitāmiem pulkiem, svētku sapulcei, 23 un debesīs pierakstīto pirmdzimto draudzei un Dievam, visu tiesnesim, un pilnību sasniegušo taisno gariem 24 un jaunās derības starpniekam Jēzum un izlietajām asinīm, kas spēcīgāki runā nekā Ābela asinis. 25 Pielūkojiet, ka jūs nenoraidāt To, kas runā. Jo, ja tie nav izbēguši, kuri atmeta To, kas zemes virsū Dieva mācību mācījis, jo mazāk mēs, ja novēršamies no Tā, kas ir no debesīm. 26 Viņa balss toreiz satricināja zemi, bet tagad Viņš pasludinājis, sacīdams: vēl vienreiz Es kustināšu ne tikai zemi, bet arī debesis. - 27 Bet vārdi "vēl vienreiz" norāda uz satricināmā pārvēršanu, tāpēc ka tas ir radīts, lai paliktu nesatricināmais. 28 Tāpēc, saņemot nesatricināmu valstību, būsim pateicīgi. Tā mēs Dievam patīkami kalposim, ar bijību un bailēm, 29 jo arī mūsu Dievs ir uguns, kas iznīcina.
