1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since ^athe message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and ^bevery transgression or disobedience received a just ^cretribution, 3 ^dhow shall we escape if we ^eneglect such a great salvation? It was ^fdeclared at first by the Lord, and it was ^gattested to us ^hby those who heard,

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from ^ethe living God. 13 But ^fexhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by ^gthe deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, ^hif indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

16 For ⁱwho were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not ^jall those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, ^kwhose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that ^lthey would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that ^mthey were unable to enter because of unbelief.

4 For it is impossible, in the case of those ^qwho have once been enlightened, who have tasted ^rthe heavenly gift, and ^shave shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and ^thave tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and ^uthen have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since ^vthey are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For ^wland 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, ^yand its 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 ^zGod is not unjust so as to overlook ^ayour work and the love that you have shown for his name in ^bserving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance ^cof hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but ^dimitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.