Modern Literal Version
[Hebrews 1]
1:1 God spoke long-ago in many parts and in many manners, in the prophets to the fathers, and spoke to us upon the last of these days in his Son, 1:2 whom he appointed* heir of all things, through whom also he made* the ages. 1:3 It is he who, being the brightness of his glory and the exact representation of his essence, and is carrying all things by the declaration of his power. Having made* a cleansing of our sins through himself, he sat down by the right hand of the Majesty in the high places; 1:4 when he became so-much better than the messengers, inasmuch as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.
1:5 For* to what one of the messengers has he previously said, 'You are my Son; I have fathered you today.'? And again, 'I will be a Father to him and he will be *for a Son to me.'? 1:6 And again, whenever he brings* in the firstborn into the inhabited-earth, he says, 'And let* all the messengers of God worship him.' 1:7 And he indeed says toward the messengers, 'Who makes* his messengers, spirits, and his ministers*, a flame of fire.' {Psa 2:7, 89:26, 27, Psa 104:4}
1:8 But he says toward the Son, 'Your throne, O God, is forevermore; the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 1:9 You loved* righteousness and hated lawlessness. Because of this, God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.' 1:10 And, 'You, Lord, in the beginnings, founded the earth and the heavens are the works of your hands: 1:11 they themselves will be perishing, but you are remaining and they will all become-obsolete like a garment; 1:12 and you will coil them up like an outer dressing and they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will not be failing.' 1:13 But toward which of the messengers has he previously said, 'Sit at my right hand, until I should place your enemies as the footstool of your feet? {Psa 45:6-7, 102:25-27, 110:1}
1:14 Are they not all ministering* spirits, being sent forth into service because of those who are about to inherit salvation?
2:1 Because of this, it is essential for us to take-heed even-more to the things which were heard, lest we might drift away. 2:2 For* if the word that was spoken through the messengers became steadfast and every transgression and disobedience* received a just reward; 2:3 how will we flee, having neglected so-great a salvation, which having received at the beginning was spoken through the Lord, which was confirmed to us under those who heard it? 2:4 God was testifying together with them, both by signs and by wonders and by various powers and by distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
2:5 For* he did not subject the future inhabited-earth to messengers, concerning what we are speaking. 2:6 But some writer thoroughly testified somewhere, saying, 'What is man, that you remember him? Or the son of man, that you visit him? 2:7 You made him a bit of something inferior less than the messengers. You crowned him with glory and honor. {T} And stood him over the works of your hands. 2:8 You subjected all things underneath his feet.' {Psa 8:4-6} For* in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing which is not subject to him. But we now do not yet see all things having been subjected to him. 2:9 But we see Jesus who has been made a bit of something inferior, less than the messengers, having been crowned with glory and honor, because of the suffering of the death he underwent,*that in the grace from God, he should taste of death on behalf of everyone. 2:10 For* it was suitable for him, because of whom are all things and through whom are all things, having led many sons to glory, to complete the author of their salvation through sufferings. 2:11 For* both he who is making him holy and those who are made holy are all from one. Because of which case, he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 2:12 saying, 'I will be proclaiming your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation* I will be singing hymns to you.' 2:13 And again, 'I will have confidence in him.' And again, 'Behold, here I am and the children whom God gave me.' {Psa 22:22, Psa 18:2, 2Sam. 22. 3, Isa 8:17-18}
2:14 Therefore since the children have shared of flesh and blood, in like-manner he partook of the same; in order that through death, he might do-away-with the one who had the dominion of death, this is the devil; 2:15 and he might set-free these, as many as were in fear of death, who were liable to bondage throughout all of their time to live. 2:16 For* surely he does not help messengers, but he is helping the seed of Abraham. 2:17 Hence he was obligated to be similar to his brethren according to all things, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high-priest in the things pertaining to God, *that* he should make atonement for the sins of the people. 2:18 For* in what he has suffered, having been tempted, he is able to help with those who are tempted.
3:1 Hence, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider* Jesus Christ, the Apostle and High-Priest of our confession; 3:2 being faithful to the one who made* him such, as Moses also was in his whole house. {Num 12:7} 3:3 For* this one has been deemed worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as the one who constructed it has more honor than the house. 3:4 For* every house is constructed by someone, but the one who constructed all things is God. 3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in his whole house as a bondservant *for a testimony of the things which will be spoken later; 3:6 but Christ was faithful as a son, over his house; whose house we are, if indeed* we hold-onto our boldness and the boasting of our hope steadfast till the end.
3:7 Hence, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today if you* hear his voice, 3:8 do not harden your* hearts, as in the rebellion, according to the day of the testing in the wilderness, 3:9 where your* fathers tested me, they proved me, and then saw my works forty years. 3:10 Hence I was displeased with that generation and said, They themselves are habitually misled in their hearts, but they did not know my ways. 3:11 As I swore in my wrath, that if... they will not be entering into my rest.' {Num 14:22, Psa 95:7-11}
3:12 Beware* brethren, lest there will be an evil heart of unbelief in anyone of you*, in the withdrawing away from the living God. 3:13 But encourage* yourselves each and every day, till what is called today; in order that not anyone of you* may be hardened by the deception of sin. 3:14 For* we have become companions of the Christ, if indeed* we hold-onto the beginning of our firmness steadfast till the end; 3:15 while* it was said, 'If you* hear his voice today, do not harden your* hearts, as in the rebellion.' {Num 14:29, Psa 95:7-11} 3:16 For* some who heard, rebelled; but not all those who came out of Egypt through Moses. 3:17 And with whom was he displeased for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? {Num 14:35} 3:18 Now to whom had he sworn that they will not be entering into his rest, except to those who were disobedient? 3:19 And we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
4:1 Therefore, since a promise was left to enter into his rest, let us fear lest anyone out of you* seem to have come-short of it. 4:2 For* we also are having the good-news proclaimed to us, just-as they also had. But the word of hearing did not profit them, because it had not been mingled together with the faith in those who heard it. 4:3 For* we who believed are entering into that rest; just-as he has said, 'As I have sworn in my wrath, That if... they will not be entering into my rest,' although the works have happened from the conception of the world. {Psa 95:7:11, Num 14:22} 4:4 For* he has thus said somewhere concerning the seventh day, 'And God rested on the seventh day from all his works'; {Gen 2:2} 4:5 and again in this one, 'That if... they will not be entering into my rest.' {Psa 95:11} 4:6 Therefore, since it is left for some to enter into it, and those to whom the good-news was proclaimed beforehand did not enter into it because of disobedience, 4:7 he again determines a certain day as today, saying in David, after so-much time, (just-as it has been said beforehand), 'Today if you* hear his voice, do not harden your* hearts.' {Psa 95:7, 8} 4:8 For* if Joshua had given-rest to them, he would have not been speaking concerning another day after these things. 4:9 Consequently*, a Sabbath-rest is left for the people of God. 4:10 For* the one who entered into his rest, he also rested from his works, just-like God did from his own. 4:11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter into that rest, in order that not anyone should fall into the same example of disobedience.
4:12 For* the word of God is living and effective and sharper beyond that of every two edged sword and is penetrating till the division of both soul and spirit, of both joints and marrows and is a judge of the contemplations and deliberations of the heart. 4:13 And there is no created thing unapparent in his sight, but all things are naked and have been laid-bare to his eyes to whom is word to us.
4:14 Therefore having a great high-priest, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone through the heavens, let us hold-fast our confession. 4:15 For* we do not have a high-priest who is unable to sympathize together with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted according to all things according to our likeness, yet without sin. 4:16 Therefore let us come near to the throne of grace with boldness, in order that we may receive mercy and may find grace *for opportune help.
5:1 For* every high-priest, being taken out of men, is designated to act on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices on behalf of sins; 5:2 he who is able to moderate his emotions with those who are ignorant and are misled, since he himself is also encompassed with weakness; 5:3 and because of this weakness, just-as he is obligated to offer sacrifices on behalf of sins concerning the people so also concerning himself. 5:4 And not anyone takes the honor for himself, but he who is called by God, just-as was Aaron.
5:5 So the Christ also did not glorify himself to become a high-priest, but he who spoke to him, 'You are my Son; I have fathered you* today.' {Psa 2:7} 5:6 Just-as he also says in a different Scripture, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.' {Psa 110:4} 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up both prayers and supplications with a strong outcry and tears to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard from his piety. 5:8 Although being a Son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered; 5:9 and having been completed, he became the cause of everlasting salvation to all those who are obeying* him; 5:10 having been addressed by God, as high-priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
5:11 Concerning whom, much for us to say in speech (also hard to translate {i.e. simplify}), since you* have become sluggish in the ears {i.e. refusing to hear truth; selective hearing}. 5:12 For* you* also ought to be teachers by now because of the time, but you* again have need of one to teach you*, What are the elemental principles of the beginning oracles of God? And you* have become ones having need of milk and not of solid nourishment. 5:13 For* everyone who partakes of milk is inexperienced of the word of righteousness; for* he is an infant. 5:14 But solid nourishment is for the mature ones, from those who, through their habit, their senses have been exercised to the discerning of both good and evil.
6:1 Hence, having left the word of the beginning principles of Christ, we should carry onto our maturity; not putting down again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith upon God, 6:2 of the teaching of immersions* {Or: O.T. ceremonial washings} and of the laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of everlasting judgment. 6:3 And we might do* this, if indeed* God permits. 6:4 For* it is impossible, those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift and became partakers of the Holy Spirit 6:5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the future world 6:6 and then having fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, because they are again crucifying for themselves the Son of God and disgracing him. 6:7 For* the soil, which drank the rainfall, while coming upon her often, and is bearing forth vegetation fit for those because of whom it is also cultivated, receives blessing from God. 6:8 But while it is bringing forth thorns and thistles, it is unapproved and near to a curse; whose end is *for burning.
6:9 But beloved, even if we speak so, we have confidence of the better things concerning you*, even those things being held to salvation,. 6:10 For* God is not unrighteous to forget your* work and the labor of the love* which you* showed toward his name, having served the holy-ones and still serving them. 6:11 But we are desiring each of you* to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope till the end; 6:12 in order that you* should not become sluggish, but imitators of those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience.
6:13 For* after God promised to Abraham, since he was holding no one greater to swear according to, he had sworn according to himself, 6:14 saying, Absolutely in blessing, I will bless you and in multiplying, I will multiply you. {Gen 22:17} 6:15 And thus Abraham, having had patience, obtained the promise. 6:16 For* indeed, men swear according to the greater and the oath made *for confirmation is an ending in every dispute with them. 6:17 In which God, planning to show even-more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable will of his plan, intermediated this with an oath; 6:18 in order that through two unchangeable matters, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, having fled for refuge to take-hold of the hope that lays before us. 6:19 This hope which we have as an anchor of the soul, is both secure and steadfast and entering into the inner side of the curtain; 6:20 where a forerunner Jesus entered on our behalf, when he became a high-priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
7:1 For* this Melchizedek, King of Salem, priest of the Highest God, who met with Abraham returning from the butcher of the kings and blessed him, 7:2 to whom Abraham also divided a tenth away from all things. Being first indeed, by translation, King of righteousness and thereafter also King of Salem, which is King of peace; 7:3 he had no father, no mother, with no genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but having been made similar to the Son of God, remains a continual priest. {Gen 14:18}
7:4 Now view* how-great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the spoils. 7:5 And they indeed from the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have the commandment to take-tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, although these have come out of the loin of Abraham. 7:6 But he whose genealogy is not traced from them has taken-tithes of Abraham and has blessed the one who has the promises. 7:7 But without any dispute the inferior is blessed by the better one. 7:8 And men indeed receive tithes who die here, but there, it is testified that he is living. 7:9 And, so as to speak the declaration, even Levi, who receives tithes, has been paid-tithes through Abraham; 7:10 for* he was still in the loin of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
{NOTES: At the Lord's Supper and in Hebrews at 7:22 and throughout the rest of the Bible: the English words, 'covenant' and 'testament' used by various translations have always been the same Greek word. The Old or New Testament is exactly the same as The Old or New Covenant. Covenant was adapted throughout the MLV because it also has a verb form. Covenant is a contract, one was God with the Jews; replaced by the one which God made with the Christians. More is in the 'Definitions' section. This Old Covenant being replaced by the New Covenant was foretold in Jer 31:31-34.}
7:11 Therefore, if there indeed was completion through the Levitical priesthood (for* the people had the law instituted upon it), what need was there still for a different priest to rise* up according to the order of Melchizedek and not to be called* according to the order of Aaron? 7:12 For* when the priesthood is transferred, there also becomes, out of necessity, a transfer of the law. 7:13 For* he belongs to a different tribe on whom these things are said, from which no one has taken-heed at the altar. 7:14 For* it is evident that our Lord has risen up out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood. 7:15 And what we say is still even-more evident, if there stands up a different priest, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 7:16 who has become, not according to the Law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an indestructible life; 7:17 for* he testifies, 'You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.' {Psa 110:4} 7:18 For* indeed, there becomes a nullifying of the preceding commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness 7:19 (for* the law completed nothing) and a bringing* in of a better hope, through which we are drawing near to God. 7:20 And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath for* those who indeed have become priests are so without an oath, 7:21 but he with an oath through the one who says pertaining to him, 'The Lord swore and will not regret, you are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.' {Psa 110:4} 7:22 Jesus has also become the guarantee according to a so-much better covenant*. 7:23 And they have become indeed many priests in number, because they are prevented by death to remain in office; 7:24 but he has his perpetual priesthood because he is to remain forever. 7:25 Hence he is also able to completely save those who come to God through him, always living, *that* he may petition on their behalf.
7:26 For* such a high-priest was suitable to us, holy, guiltless, undefiled, has been separated away from sinners and became exalted from the heavens; 7:27 who has no necessity every day to offer up sacrifices just-like the high-priests, (beforehand on behalf of their own sins), and thereafter for* those of the people; for* he did* this once for all, having offered up himself. 7:28 For* the law designates men as high-priests, who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appoints a Son, having been completed forever.
8:1 Now a summation upon the things in which are spoken is this: we have such a high-priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 8:2 a minister* of the holy of holies and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man. 8:3 For* every high-priest is designated, *that* he should offer both gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary for this one to also have something that he should offer. 8:4 For* if he indeed was upon the earth, he would not even be a priest, being that the priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 8:5 who gives-divine service to what is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just-as Moses had been divinely-warned while being about to complete the tabernacle; for* behold, he says, You will be making* all things according to the pattern which was shown to you in the mountain. {Exo 25:40} 8:6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry*, inasmuch as he is also the intermediary of a better covenant*, which has been instituted upon better promises.
8:7 For* if that first covenant* was blameless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8:8 For* finding-fault with them, he says, 'Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, That I will complete a new covenant* upon the house of Israel and upon the house of Judah; 8:9 not according to the covenant* that I made* with their fathers in the day when I myself grabbed their hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt, because they did not remain in my covenant* and I neglected them, says the Lord. 8:10 Because this one is the covenant* which I will covenant* with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will be giving my laws into their mind and I will be writing them upon their hearts. And I will be a God to them and they will be covenanted* into a people for me; 8:11 and they should never need to teach, saying, Know the Lord; to each one his fellow-citizen and each one his brother, because all will know me, from the little insofar as their great ones. 8:12 Because I will be lenient to their unrighteousnesses; I should never remember their lawlessnesses and their sins anymore.' {Jer 31:31-34}
8:13 While* we were saying, a new covenant*, the first has become-obsolete. But what becomes-obsolete and is aged, it is near to disappearing.
9:1 Therefore indeed even the first tabernacle had ordinances of divine service to God and its holy-place, a worldly one. 9:2 For* the first tabernacle was prepared, which is called* the holy-place, in which were the lamp-stand and the table and the loaves of the showbread. 9:3 But, the tabernacle which is called* the holy of holies was after the second curtain; 9:4 holding a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant*, having been covered all around on every-side with gold, in which was the golden jar holding the manna and Aaron's scepter which had sprouted and the tablets of the covenant*; 9:5 and up above it the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which things it is now not the time to speak of them individually. {Exo 25:1-40, 26:36, 40:3, Num 17:10}
9:6 Now these things having thus always been prepared, the priests indeed go-into the first tabernacle, completing the divine services to God; 9:7 but the high-priest went alone into the second, once in the year for all, not without blood, which he offers on behalf of himself and on behalf of the sins of ignorance of the people. 9:8 The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the holy of holies to have not yet been manifested, while the first tabernacle still has a standing. 9:9 This tabernacle, (which is a figure toward the present time); according to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, is not able to complete he who is giving-divine service to God according to the conscience, 9:10 being only ordinances of the flesh, (upon the basis of foods, drinks and assorted ceremonial washings), laid upon us till a time of reformation.
9:11 But Christ came* as a high-priest of the future good things, through the greater and more complete tabernacle, not made* with hands, that is, not of this creation, 9:12 nor through the blood of male-goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy of holies, having found everlasting redemption. 9:13 For* if the blood of male-goats and oxen and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling those who have been desecrated, makes one holy toward the cleanness of the flesh; 9:14 how-much more the blood of Christ, (who through the everlasting Spirit offered himself unblemished to God), will be cleansing your* conscience from dead works, *that* you may give-divine service to the living God.
9:15 And because of this, he is the intermediary of a new covenant*, that his death having happened *for the redemption of the transgressions that were against the first covenant*, *that those who have been called may receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. 9:16 For* where there is a covenant*, it is a necessity for the death of the one who covenanted* it to be brought about. 9:17 For* a covenant* is steadfast upon the dead; since it is never enforced when he who covenanted* it is living. 9:18 Hence even the first covenant* has not been inaugurated without blood. 9:19 For* when every commandment was spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, and when he took the blood of the calves and the male-goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 9:20 saying, 'This is the blood of the covenant* which God commanded toward you*.' {Exo 24:8} 9:21 Now likewise, he also sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry* in the blood. 9:22 And according to the law, I may say, almost all things are cleansed in blood and no forgiveness happens without the shedding of blood.
9:23 Therefore indeed, it was a necessity that the copies of the things in the heavens are to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 9:24 For* the Christ did not enter into the holy of holies made* with hands, counterparts to the true one, but into heaven itself, now to be manifested before the face of God on our behalf. 9:25 Nor did he enter in order that he should offer himself often, just-like the high-priest enters into the holy of holies every year with* another's blood; 9:26 since often it was essential for him to suffer from the conception of the world, but now once for all upon the end of the ages, he has been manifested *for the nullifying of sin through the sacrifice of himself. 9:27 And inasmuch as it is laying up for men to die once but after this is the judgment; 9:28 so the Christ, (having been offered once for all, *that* he should carry the sins of many), will also be seen a second-time *for salvation, separate from sin, to the same who are waiting for him.
10:1 For* the law, having a shadow of the future good things, (not the same image of the matters), they are never able to complete those who come near with the same continual sacrifices which they are offering every year. 10:2 Otherwise, why would they not have ceased being offered? Because those who are giving-divine service to God, once having been cleansed, would then have a conscience of sins no more. 10:3 But in them, those sacrifices, there is a remembrance of sins every year. 10:4 For* it is impossible for the blood of oxen and male-goats to take away sins. 10:5 Hence while entering into the world, he says, 'You did not wish for sacrifice and offering, but you, yourself, completed a body for me. 10:6 You were not delighted in whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices concerning sin. 10:7 Then I said, (as it has been written concerning me in the volume of the book), Behold, I am coming to do* your will, O God.' {Psa 40:6-8} 10:8 After saying this above, You did not wish, nor were you delighted in sacrifice and offering and whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices concerning sin, (which are offered according to the law), 10:9 then he has said, 'Behold, I am coming to do* your will, O God.' {Psa 40:6-8} He assassinates {Or: takes away permanently.} the first covenant*, in order that he should establish the second covenant*, 10:10 in which will, we are being been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all. 10:11 And indeed every priest stands every day ministering* and often offering the same sacrifices, which are never able to take away sins. {Exo 29:38} 10:12 But having offered one continual sacrifice on behalf of sins, he sat down at the right hand of God; 10:13 furthermore waiting until his enemies should be placed under the footstool of his feet. 10:14 For* he has completed in one continual offering those who are made holy. 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for* after he has said beforehand, 10:16 'This is the covenant* that I will covenant* for them after those days, says the Lord, I will be giving my laws upon their hearts and I will write them upon their minds.' 10:17 And 'I should never remember their sins and their lawlessnesses anymore.' {Jer 31:33-34} 10:18 Now where the forgiveness of these is, there is no more an offering concerning sin.
10:19 Therefore brethren, having boldness *for the entrance into the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus, 10:20 a way which he inaugurated for us, a fresh and living way, through the curtain, that is, his flesh; 10:21 and having a great priest over the house of God; 10:22 let us come near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts having been sprinkled away from an evil conscience and our body, having been fully-washed in clean {Or: cleansing} water. 10:23 We should hold-onto the confession of our hope– unwavering; for* he who promised is faithful. 10:24 And we should consider one another *for motivating each other from love* and from good works; 10:25 not forsaking our own gathering-together, just-as the custom is with some, but encouraging one another, and so-much more, inasmuch as you* are seeing the day drawing near.
10:26 For* when we sin willfully after the receiving of the full knowledge of the truth, then a sacrifice is left no more for us concerning sins, 10:27 but a certain fearful expectancy of judgment and a zeal of fire which is about to eat the adversaries. 10:28 Anyone, having rejected the Law of Moses, dies without mercies upon the word of two or three witnesses. {Deu 17:6} 10:29 How-much worse punishment, do you* think he will be deemed worthy of, after having trampled down with the foot the Son of God, and having deemed the blood of the covenant* in which he was made holy as common, and having insulted the Spirit of grace? 10:30 For* we know the one who said, 'Vengeance is for me. I will be repaying says the Lord.' And again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' {Deu 32:35-36, Psa 135:14} 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
10:32 But remind* yourselves of the former days, when you* were enlightened, in which you* endured a large conflict of sufferings; 10:33 in this thing indeed, makes you* a spectacle both by reproaches and afflictions, but in this thing, you became partners of those who are conducting themselves so. 10:34 For* you* also sympathized together with me in my bonds, and you* accepted the ravening of your* possessions with joy, knowing that you* have for yourselves a better possession in the heavens and an abiding one. 10:35 Therefore do* not cast away your* boldness, which has great reward. 10:36 For* you* have need of endurance, in order that, having done* the will of God, you* may get the promise for yourselves. 10:37 'For* still a little while, O how-much? O how-much? He who is coming will be coming and will not delay. 10:38 But my righteous one will be living from faith and if he should retreat back, my soul does not delight in him.' {Isa 26:20, Hab. 2:3-4} 10:39 But we are not from this retreating back leading to destruction, but we are from the faith leading to the preservation of the soul.
11:1 Now faith is the essence of things hoped for, a conviction of matters not seen. 11:2 For* the elders were witnessed in this; 11:3 in faith, we perceive the ages to have been framed by the declaration of God, toward the things seen, and did not become from things which appear. 11:4 In faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice to God than Cain, through which he was witnessed to be righteous, God testifying on the basis of his gifts and through it, he still speaks, although having died. 11:5 In faith, Enoch was transferred, not to see death, and he was not being found, because God transferred him; for* it had been testified of him to have been well pleasing to God before his transfer. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to God; for* it is essential for the one who comes near to God to believe that he is and that he becomes a rewarder to those who are seeking him out. 11:7 In faith, Noah, having been divinely-warned concerning things not yet seen, was scared, and prepared an ark *for the salvation of his house; through which he condemned the world and he became an heir of righteousness according to faith. 11:8 In faith, Abraham obeyed*, being called to go out to the place which he was about to receive *for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 11:9 In faith, he sojourned in the land of promise, as an alien, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint heirs of the same promise. 11:10 For* he was waiting for the city which has the foundations, whose craftsman and contractor is God. 11:11 In faith, even Sarah herself received power *for conception of seed and bore a son contrary to the time of her fertile age*, since she deemed him faithful who promised it. 11:12 And hence these were fathered from one sexually dead man, just-as the stars of heaven in a multitude and as innumerable as the sand beside the sea shore. {Gen 4:4, 5:24, 6:8, 14, 12:1-2, 5, 27:11-12, 14, Gen 18:1-33, 22:17}
11:13 These all died according to faith, not having received the promises. But having seen them and having greeted them from farther out and having confessed that they are strangers and travelers upon the earth. 11:14 For* those who are saying such things are disclosing that they are seeking after a fatherland. 11:15 And if they were indeed remembering that land from which they went out, they would have had an opportunity to revisit. 11:16 But now they are aspiring for themselves to a better land, this thing is a heavenly one. Hence God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for* he prepared a city for them.
11:17 In faith, Abraham, being tested, has offered up Isaac. And he who accepted the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 11:18 to whom it was spoken, Seed will be called to you in Isaac. 11:19 He reasoned that God is able to raise him up even from the dead; from where he also got him back in a figure. 11:20 In faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning future things. 11:21 In faith, Jacob, while dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, resting upon the tip of his staff. 11:22 In faith, Joseph, while dying*, remembered things concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel, and commanded them concerning his bones. {Gen 21:1, 12, 50:24}
11:23 In faith, Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by the fathers, because they saw he was a handsome child, and they were not afraid of the command of the king. 11:24 In faith, Moses became great, and denied to be called* the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 11:25 having selected for himself to be mistreated together with the people of God rather than to have temporary enjoyment of sin, 11:26 having deemed the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for* he was looking toward the reward. 11:27 In faith, he left Egypt, and was not afraid of the fury of the king; for* he persevered, as seeing the invisible one. 11:28 In faith, he has made* the Passover and the splashing of the blood on the door frames, in order that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 11:29 In faith, they crossed over the Red Sea as if through dry land; from which the Egyptians having taken an attempt at it, were swallowed up. {Exo 2:2, 11, 15, 12:11, 18, 14:22}
11:30 In faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, having been surrounded for seven days. 11:31 In faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish together with those who were disobedient, having accepted the spies with peace. {Jos 6:17-23, Jos 2:1}
11:32 And what more should I say? For* the time will fail me if I describe the things concerning Gideon, Barak, and both Samson and Jephthah; both David and Samuel, and the prophets: 11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, sealed the mouths of lions, 11:34 quenched the power of fire, fled away from the edges of the sword, were empowered away from weakness, became mighty in war, the encampments of aliens bowed down. 11:35 Women received back their dead from a resurrection. But others were tortured, having not accepted their redemption; in order that they might obtain a better resurrection, 11:36 and others received a trial from mockings and scourges, but still more, from bonds and prison: 11:37 they were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were tempted; they died in murder from the sword; they went around in sheepskins, and in goat hides; they were lacking, being afflicted, and being mistreated, 11:38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in the wildernesses and mountains and caves and the holes of the earth. 11:39 And all these, having been testified of through the faith, {Or: witnessed to through their faith.} did not get the promise for themselves, 11:40 God having foreseen something better concerning us, in order that they should not be completed separate from us. {Jud 6:4, 11, 15, 1Sa 7:1-17, 2Sa 2:1-32, 2Sa 8:1-18, Jud 14:1-20, Dan 6:1-28}
12:1 Therefore, since we also have so-great a cloud of witnesses encompassing us, let us run through endurance the contest laying before us, placing away from ourselves every interference, and the easily restricting sin {or: popular sin; what stands around us well}. 12:2 Looking away from things, look toward Jesus, the author and completer of the faith, who endured the cross having despised shame, in exchange-for the joy laying before him, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 12:3 For*, study* the one who has endured such dispute by sinners to himself, in order that you* might not be weary, being faint in your* souls. 12:4 You* have not yet stood up as far as sacrificing blood toward your struggling against sin. 12:5 And you* have forgotten the encouragement which reasons with you* as with sons, 'My son, do not regard-lightly the disciplining of the Lord, nor be faint when you are reproved by him. 12:6 For* whom the Lord loves*, he disciplines, and scourges every son whom he is accepting.' {Prov. 3:11-12, Job 5:17} 12:7 It is *for disciplining that you* endure; God himself is dealing with you* as with sons; for* what is the son whom his father is not disciplining? 12:8 But if you* are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, consequently*, you* are illegitimate and not sons. 12:9 Thereafter, we indeed had the fathers of our flesh as correctors of us, and we revered them. Will we not much rather be made subject to the Father of spirits and we will live? 12:10 For* they indeed were disciplining us *for a few days according to what did seem right to them, but he does it upon what is advantageous for us, *that* we may receive of his holiness. 12:11 Now indeed all disciplining does not seem to be a thing of joy for the present*, but of sorrow; now later it gives peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised because of it. 12:12 Hence straighten* the drooping hands and the paralyzed knees; 12:13 and make** straightened tracks for your* feet, in order that what is lame may not be turned aside, but rather should be healed.
12:14 Pursue* peace with all and the holiness without which no one will be seeing the Lord: 12:15 exercising the oversight of yourselves lest there is anyone who comes-short, away from the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing upward, might trouble you*, and many may be defiled through this; 12:16 lest there is any fornicator or profane person, like Esau, who gave away his birthrights in exchange-for one dinner. {Gen 25:31} 12:17 For* you* know thereafter that even wishing to inherit the bounty, he was rejected*; for* he found no chance for repentance although having sought it out with tears.
12:18 For* you* have not come to a mountain being touched and having been burned with fire and to blackness and to darkness and to whirlwind, 12:19 and to the noise of a trumpet and to the voice of declarations; which voice those who heard renounced, asking the word not to be added to them. 12:20 For* they were not carrying out what was ordered, 'Even if a beast might touch the mountain, it will be stoned.' {Exo 19:12-13, 16, Deu 4:11} 12:21 And so fearful was the manifestation, that Moses said, 'I am fearful and trembling. {Deu 9:19} 12:22 But you* have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of messengers, 12:23 to the festal-gathering and to the congregation* of the firstborn ones, who have been registered in the heavens and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous who have been completed, 12:24 and to Jesus the intermediary of a new covenant*, and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better than that of Abel. 12:25 Beware* that you* do not renounce the one who speaks. For* if those men did not flee, having renounced the one who divinely-warned them upon the earth, much more we may not flee who are turning away from him, who is from the heavens; 12:26 whose voice then shook the earth. But now he has promised, saying, 'Still once for all, I do not only shake the earth, but also the heaven.' {Hag. 2:6} 12:27 And the saying, 'still once for all,' indicates the transfer of those things which are shaken, as of things which have been made*, in order that those things which are not shaken may remain. 12:28 Hence, receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us have gratitude, through which we give-divine service in ways well pleasing to God, with reverence and piety; 12:29 for* our God is also a consuming fire. {Deu 4:24}
13:1 Let brotherly-love abide. 13:2 Do* not forget hospitality; for* through this, some lodged messengers, being eluded. 13:3 Remember* those who are prisoners, as having been bound together with them; those who are mistreated, as though being mistreated yourselves also in the body. 13:4 Let marriage be honored among all and let the marriage-bed be undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will be judging. 13:5 In the manner of life, not being a money-lover, be content with the things which are present*; for* he himself has said, I should never be lax concerning you, nor am I forsaking you. 13:6 So-as for us being courageous to say, The Lord is my helper and I will not be fearing. What will man be doing* for me? {Gen 18:2, Deu 31:8, Jos 1:5, Psa 56:4, 11; 118:6}
13:7 Remember* your* leaders, men who spoke to you* the word of God, of whom after reviewing the outcome of their conduct, imitate* the faith of such! 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. 13:9 Do* not be carried away by various and strange teachings; for* it is good for the heart to be confirmed in gratitude; not by foods, in which those who walked were not profited. 13:10 We have an altar, from which those who give-divine service to the tabernacle have no authority to eat. 13:11 For* the bodies of these creatures, whose blood is brought into the holy of holies through the high-priest as an offering concerning sin, are burned outside the encampment. 13:12 Hence Jesus also suffered outside the gate, in order that he might make the people holy through his own blood. 13:13 Now-then let us go forth to him outside the encampment, carrying his reproach. 13:14 For* we do not have an abiding city here, but we are seeking after the future city. 13:15 Therefore, let us always offer up a sacrifice of praising through him to God, that is, the fruit of our lips confessing praise in his name. 13:16 But do* not forget the practice of good* and fellowship. For* God is well pleased with such sacrifices. 13:17 Obey* and yield* yourselves to your* leaders; for* they are watching out on behalf of your* souls, as those who will be giving account; in order that they may do* this thing with joy and not groaning; for* this would be detrimental to you*. {Lev 4:12, 21, Lev 16:27, Num 19:3, Mic 2:10}
13:18 Pray* concerning us; for* we have confidence that we have a good conscience, wishing to conduct ourselves in a good manner in all things. 13:19 But I am encouraging you* even-more to do* this, in order that I may be restored to you* shortly.
13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought* up the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, from the dead in the blood of an everlasting covenant*, 13:21 may he complete you* in every good work, *that* you* should practice his will, doing* what is well pleasing in his sight in you*, through Jesus Christ in whom is the glory, forevermore. Amen.
13:22 But I am encouraging you*, brethren, tolerate* the word of encouragement, for* I have informed you* by letter through bits of information. 13:23 Do you* know that our brother Timothy has been released? With whom, I will be seeing you* if he comes shortly.
13:24 Greet* all your* leaders and all the holy-ones. Those from Italy greet you*.
13:25 Grace is with all of you*. Amen.
{Please read the Preface and other non-bible sections. * is our universal footnoting for words contained in the 'Definitions' section. These words are NOT the same Greek word as the non-asterisk form; i.e. *FOR is different from FOR* is different from FOR.}
{Note: Mark and Matthew were written at about the same time as James. This ties up a lot of questions why Matthew is written to the Jews and Mark was written to the Greeks.}
{{ Introduction to James 50-52 AD
This letter was most likely written about the same time the letter in Acts 15 was sent to all the congregations from the apostles in Jerusalem. That letter told the Gentile Christians and the Jewish Christians that only four things from the Law (Old Testament) were to be obeyed. Jews who had known the Law all of their lives could not keep it, no way Gentiles could either and neither has to obey it under the New Testament.
So James is fast paced written to an overall Christian audience and encourages all to not have a 'faith only,' or a 'works can save you' type attitude but to have both. James has more commandments (short and simple) per page than does any other letter: Do not be a hearer only but be a doer. To believe (have faith) is to have works. Do not blame God for your lack of control. Listen. Practice mercy. Do not be prejudiced. Do not ignore the poor, etc. The classic 'faith only' can never save you rebuke because even 'demons believe' is in 2:19. James tells us how to live as Christians. He tells us 'like it is.'}}
Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1999, 2014 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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