Chapter 13

¹Your love for the brotherhood must continue. ²Do not forget to be hospitable to strangers, for by being so some, without knowing it, have had angels as their guests. ³Remember those who are in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated as being yourselves liable to the same trials. ⁴Marriage should be respected by everyone, and the marriage relation kept sacred, for vicious and immoral people God will punish. ⁵You must not be avaricious; you must be content with what you have, for God himself has said, “I will never let go of you or desert you!” ⁶So that we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can men do to me?”

⁷Do not forget your former leaders, the men who brought you God’s message. Remember how they ended their lives and imitate their faith.

⁸Jesus Christ is the same today that he was yesterday, and he will be so forever. ⁹You must not be carried away with strange varieties of teaching. The true way to steadfastness of heart is through God’s mercy, not through scruples about food, which have never done their adherents any good. ¹⁰Our altar is one at which those who serve the tent of worship have no right to eat. ¹¹For the bodies of the animals whose blood is taken into the sanctuary by the high priest are burned outside the camp. ¹²And so Jesus too, in order to purify the people by his blood, suffered death outside the city gate. ¹³Let us, therefore, go out to him, outside the camp, sharing the contempt that he endured, ¹⁴for we have no permanent city here on earth, but we are in search of the city that is to come. ¹⁵In his name let us continually offer praise as our sacrifice to God—the utterance of lips that glorify God’s name. ¹⁶But do not forget to be helpful and generous, for that is the kind of sacrifice that pleases God.

¹⁷Obey your leaders and give way to them, for they are keeping watch in defense of your souls, as men accountable for the trust. Make their work a joy and not a grief, for that would be the worse for you.

¹⁸Pray for me, for I am sure I have a clear conscience, and I mean in every way to live an upright life. ¹⁹I ask this of you more especially that I may be brought back to you the sooner.

²⁰May God, the giver of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus who through the blood by which he ratified the everlasting agreement has become the great shepherd of the sheep, ²¹fit you by every blessing to do his will, and through Jesus Christ carry out in us what will please him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

²²I beg you brothers, to listen patiently to this appeal, for I have written you but briefly.

²³You must know that our brother Timothy has been released from prison. If he comes here soon, we will see you together.

²⁴Remember us to all your leaders and to all your fellow-Christians. The brothers from Italy wish to be remembered to you.

²⁵God bless you all!