4 God promised his people that they could go to his special place of rest. That promise is still true for us today. So we must be very careful. Do not fail to arrive in that place. We certainly do not want that to happen. 2 We have heard God's good news, just like God's people in the wilderness heard his message. But that message did not help them, because they did not believe it. They did not trust God, like those who obeyed him. 3 But those of us who trust God do enjoy his special place of rest. This is what God said:
‘Because I was very angry with them, I promised this:
“They will never arrive in my special place of rest.” ’ [ a ]
God said that, even though he had finished his work when he made the world. 4 In the Bible God has spoken about the seventh day like this:
‘God rested from all his work on the seventh day.’ [ b ]
5 As we have already seen, God said something later about his rest:
‘They will never arrive in my special place of rest.’
6 So we see that there is still a chance for people to go to God's place of rest. But those people who first heard God's message in the wilderness refused to obey him. As a result, they did not arrive in his special place of rest. 7 So God chose another time for people to go to his place of rest. He called it ‘Today’. A long time after Moses, David spoke God's message. As we have already seen, he said:
‘You must listen when you hear God speak today.
Do not refuse to obey him.’
8 This shows that Joshua did not bring God's people to the place where they could rest. Later, God had to speak again about another day of rest. 9 So we see this: God still has a place ready for his people, where they can rest. They will rest as God rested on the seventh day. 10 When God made the world and everything, he rested after he had finished his work. It is the same for everyone who goes to God's place of rest. They too will rest. They will no longer need to work. [ c ]
11 So we must do everything possible to arrive in God's special place of rest. God's people in the wilderness did not obey him. We must not be like them. If we do not obey God, we also will fail to arrive in that place.
12 So be careful! God's message to us is alive and powerful. It is like a sword that has two sharp edges. Even more than a sword, God's message goes very deep into us. It cuts between our soul and our spirit. It is like a sharp knife that can cut deep into our body between our bones. God's message shows what we are really thinking. It shows what we really want. 13 There is nothing in the whole world that can hide from God. He sees everything clearly and he knows everything. We will have to explain to him everything that we have done during our lives.
14 Jesus, the Son of God, helps us as God's most important priest. He is our great priest who has gone up into heaven. We say that we believe in him. So we must continue to show people that we trust him. 15 Jesus, our great priest understands us. He knows how weak we are. He knows that we sometimes want to do wrong things. The Devil tried to make him do all those same kinds of wrong things. But Jesus never did anything wrong. 16 So we should come near to God and we should not be afraid. God is our King. We can ask him to help us when we need help. We know that he will forgive us and he will be kind to us in whatever way we need. [ d ]
4 And we still have the promise that God gave those people. That promise is that we can enter his place of rest. So we should be very careful that none of you fails to get that promise. 2 Yes, the good news about it was told to us just as it was to them. But the message they heard did not help them. They heard it but did not accept it with faith. 3 Only we who believe it are able to enter God’s place of rest. As God said,
“I was angry and made a promise:
‘They will never enter my place of rest.’” ( A )
But God’s work was finished from the time he made the world. 4 Yes, somewhere in the Scriptures he talked about the seventh day of the week. He said, “So on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” [ a ] 5 But in the Scripture above God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”
6 So the opportunity is still there for some to enter and enjoy God’s rest. But those who first heard the good news about it did not enter, because they did not obey. 7 So God planned another special day. It is called “today.” He spoke about that day through David a long time later using the words we quoted before:
“If you hear God’s voice today,
don’t be stubborn.” ( B )
8 We know that Joshua did not lead the people into the place of rest that God promised. We know this because God spoke later about another day for rest. 9 This shows that the seventh-day rest [ b ] for God’s people is still to come. 10 God rested after he finished his work. So everyone who enters God’s place of rest will also have rest from their own work just as God did. 11 So let us try as hard as we can to enter God’s place of rest. We must try hard so that none of us will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey God.
12 God’s word [ c ] is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. 13 Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. He can clearly see all things. Everything is open before him. And to him we must explain the way we have lived.
14 We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. 15 Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.
4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
4 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have ( A ) come short of it . 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did ; but ( B ) the word [ a ] they heard did not benefit them, because [ b ] they were not united with those who listened with faith. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“ ( C ) As I swore in My anger ,
They certainly shall not enter My rest ,”
although His works were finished ( D ) from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said ( E ) somewhere concerning the seventh day : “ ( F ) And God ( G ) rested on the seventh day from all His works ”; 5 and again in this passage , “ ( H ) They certainly shall not enter My rest .” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of ( I ) disobedience, 7 He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying [ c ] through David after so long a time just ( J ) as has been said before,
“ ( K ) Today if you hear His voice ,
Do not harden your hearts .”
8 For ( L ) if [ d ] Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also ( M ) rested from his works, as ( N ) God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same ( O ) example of ( P ) disobedience. 12 For ( Q ) the word of God is ( R ) living and ( S ) active, and sharper than any two-edged ( T ) sword, even penetrating as far as the division of ( U ) soul and ( V ) spirit, of both joints and marrow, and ( W ) able to [ e ] judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And ( X ) there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ( Y ) open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom [ f ] we must answer.
14 Therefore, since we have a great ( Z ) high priest who has ( AA ) passed through the heavens, Jesus ( AB ) the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our ( AC ) confession. 15 For we do not have ( AD ) a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been ( AE ) tempted in all things just as we are, yet ( AF ) without sin. 16 Therefore let’s ( AG ) approach the throne of grace with ( AH ) confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ( A ) 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. [ a ] ( B ) 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” [ c ] ( D ) 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” ( E )
6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, ( F ) 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, ( H ) God would not have spoken ( I ) later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, [ e ] ( J ) just as God did from his. ( K ) 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. ( L )
12 For the word of God ( M ) is alive ( N ) and active. ( O ) Sharper than any double-edged sword, ( P ) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ( Q ) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. ( R ) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest ( S ) who has ascended into heaven, [ f ] ( T ) Jesus the Son of God, ( U ) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ( V ) 15 For we do not have a high priest ( W ) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are ( X ) —yet he did not sin. ( Y ) 16 Let us then approach ( Z ) God’s throne of grace with confidence, ( AA ) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
