¹ Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection-not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

² of the teaching of washings, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

³ This will we do, if God permits.

⁴ For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

⁵ and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

⁶ and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

⁷ For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;

⁸ but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

⁹ But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the¹ love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

1. M TR add "labor of"

¹¹ We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,

¹² that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.

¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself,

¹⁴ saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."¹

1. Genesis 22:17

¹⁵ Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

¹⁶ For men¹ swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

1. M TR add "indeed"

¹⁷ In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;

¹⁸ that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.

¹⁹ This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

²⁰ where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.