Chapter 4

¹We ought therefore to fear that when the promise of admission to his Rest is still open, some one of you may be found to have failed to reach it. ²For we have had good news preached to us, just as they did, but the message they heard did them no good because they did not agree through faith with what they heard. ³For we who have believed are admitted to that Rest, of which he said,

“As I made oath in my anger,

They shall never be admitted to my Rest!”

And yet God’s work was finished at the creation of the world, ⁴for he says somewhere of the seventh day,

“On the seventh day God rested after all his work,”

⁵while here he says again,

“They shall never be admitted to my Rest!”

⁶Since then it is still true that somebody will be admitted to it, and those who had a gospel preached to them before were not admitted because of their disobedience, ⁷he again fixes a new Today, saying long afterward through David, as already quoted,

“If you hear his voice today,

Do not harden your hearts!”

⁸For if Joshua had really brought them rest God would not afterward have spoken of another day. ⁹So there must still be a promised Sabbath of Rest for God’s people. ¹⁰For all who are admitted to God’s Rest rest after their work, just as God did after his. ¹¹Let us, therefore, make every effort to be admitted to that Rest, so that none of us may fail through such disobedience as theirs. ¹²For the message of God is a living and active force, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing through soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and keen in judging the thoughts and purposes of the mind. ¹³No being created can escape God’s sight, but everything is bare and helpless before the eyes of him with whom we have to reckon.

¹⁴Since then we have in Jesus, the Son of God, a great high priest who has gone up into heaven, let us keep firm hold of our religion. ¹⁵For our high priest is not one who is incapable of sympathy with our weaknesses, but he has been tempted in every way just as we have, without committing any sin. ¹⁶So let us come with courage to God’s throne of grace to receive his forgiveness and find him responsive when we need his help.