| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, | 1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, |
| 2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. | 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. |
| 3And this we will do if God permits. | 3And this we will do, if God permits. |
| 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, | 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
| 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, | 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— |
| 6if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. | 6and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame. |
| 7For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; | 7For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. |
| 8but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. | 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned. |
| 9But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. | 9Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. |
| 10For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. | 10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so. |
| 11And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, | 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. |
| 12that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. | 12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. |
| 13For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, | 13When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, |
| 14saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” | 14saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” |
| 15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. | 15And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise. |
| 16For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. | 16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. |
| 17Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, | 17So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. |
| 18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. | 18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged. |
| 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, | 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, |
| 20where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. | 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. |
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