1 For uevery high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices vfor sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, wsince he himself is beset with xweakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice yfor his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And zno one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ adid not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,
b“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
c“You are a priest forever,
after the order of dMelchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus1 offered up eprayers and supplications, with floud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a gson, he learned hobedience through what he suffered. 9 And ibeing made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Warning Against Apostasy
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become jdull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the kbasic principles of the oracles of God. You need lmilk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a mchild. 14 But solid food is for the nmature, for those who have their powers of discernment otrained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
1 Therefore let us leave the pelementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from qdead works rand of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings,2 the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For sit is impossible, in the case of those who have once been tenlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and uhave shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have vtasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, wsince they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But xif it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and yits end is to be burned.
9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your zwork and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the afull assurance of bhope until the end, 12 so that you may not be csluggish, but dimitators of those who through faith and patience einherit the promises.
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, fhe swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,3 having patiently waited, gobtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to hlie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to ihold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that jenters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 kwhere Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, lhaving become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation
Of David.
1 wThe Lord is my light and my salvation;
xwhom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold1 of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
ymy heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet2 I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
zthat I may adwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to bgaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire3 in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his cshelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high dupon a rock.
6 And now my ehead shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with fshouts of joy;
gI will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 hHear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and ianswer me!
8 You have said, j“Seek4 my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”5
9 kHide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; lforsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
11 mTeach me your way, O Lord,
and nlead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 oGive me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for pfalse witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look6 upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
