The Promise of Rest
1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest,let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heardit.
3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
# “So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventhdayin this way:“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;
5 and again in thisplace:“They shall not enter My rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains that somemustenter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,
7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
# “Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua hadgiven them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as Goddidfrom His.
The Word Discovers Our Condition
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
12 For the word of Godisliving and powerful, andsharper than anytwo-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and isa discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all thingsarenaked and open to the eyes of Him to whom wemustgiveaccount.
Our Compassionate High Priest
14 Seeing then that we have a greatHigh Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,let us hold fastourconfession.
15 Forwe do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, butwas in allpointstempted asweare,yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.