1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Children
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”12:5,6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13“Make level paths for your feet,”12:13 Prov. 4:26 so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Warning and Encouragement
14Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”12:20 Exodus 19:12,13 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”12:26 Haggai 2:6 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.”12:29 Deut. 4:24
Yesu Chitsanzo Chathu
1Tsono popeza ifenso tazunguliridwa ndi gulu lalikulu la mboni, tiyeni titaye chilichonse chimene chimatitchinga, makamaka tchimo limene limatikola mosavuta, ndipo tithamange ndi khama mpikisano umene tayambawu. 2Tiyeni tiyangʼanitsitse Yesu, amene ndi woyamba ndi wotsiriza wa chikhulupiriro chathu. Chifukwa cha chimwemwe chimene chimamudikira anapirira zowawa zapamtanda. Iye ananyoza manyazi a imfa yotere ndipo tsopano akukhala ku dzanja lamanja la mpando waufumu wa Mulungu. 3Muzilingalira za Iye amene anapirira udani waukulu chotere wochokera kwa anthu ochimwa, kuti musafowoke ndi kutaya mtima. 4Polimbana ndi uchimo, simunafike mpaka pokhetsa magazi.
Mulungu Amalanga Ana ake
5Kodi mwayiwala mawu olimbitsa mtima aja, amene Mulungu anayankhula kwa inu ngati ana ake? Mawuwo ndi awa:
“Mwana wanga, usapeputse kulanga kwa Ambuye
ndipo usataye mtima pamene akukudzudzula.
6Chifukwa Ambuye amadzudzula amene amawakonda
ndipo amalanga aliyense amene amamulandira.”
7Pamene mukupirira masautso monga chilango, Mulungu achitira inu monga ana ake. Kodi ndi mwana wotani amene abambo ake samulanga? 8Ngati inu simulangidwa, komatu aliyense amalangidwa, ndiye kuti sindinu ana enieni koma amʼchigololo. 9Komanso, tonsefe tinali ndi abambo athu otibala amene amatilanga ndipo timawapatsa ulemu. Nanga kodi sitidzagonjera Atate a mizimu yathu kuti tikhale ndi moyo? 10Abambo athu ankatilanga kwa kanthawi kochepa monga amaonera kufunika kwake, koma Mulungu amatilanga kuti tipindule, kuti tikhale oyera mtima. 11Palibe chilango chimene chimaoneka kuti ndi chabwino pa nthawiyo, komatu chowawa. Koma pambuyo pake, chimabweretsa chipatso chachilungamo ndi mtendere kwa iwo amene aleredwa mwa njira imeneyi.
12Nʼchifukwa chake limbitsani manja anu otopa ndi mawondo anu ogowoka. 13Muziyenda mʼnjira zowongoka, kuti iwo amene akukutsatirani ngakhale ndi olumala ndi ofowoka asapunthwe ndi kugwa koma adzilimbikitsidwa.
Chenjezo kwa Okana Mulungu
14Yesetsani kukhala pa mtendere ndi anthu onse ndi kukhala oyera mtima, pakuti popanda chiyero palibe ndi mmodzi yemwe adzaona Ambuye. 15Yangʼanitsitsani kuti wina aliyense asachiphonye chisomo cha Mulungu ndiponso kuti pasaphuke muzu wamkwiyo umene udzabweretsa mavuto ndi kudetsa ambiri. 16Yangʼanitsitsani kuti pasakhale wina wachigololo. Kapena wosapembedza ngati Esau, amene chifukwa cha chakudya cha kamodzi kokha anagulitsa ukulu wake. 17Monga inu mukudziwa, pambuyo pake pamene anafuna kuti adalitsidwe anakanidwa. Sanapezenso mpata woti asinthe maganizo, ngakhale anafuna madalitsowo ndi misozi.
18Inu simunafike ku phiri limene mungathe kulikhudza, loyaka moto wa mdima bii, la mphepo yamkuntho; 19limene pali kulira kwa lipenga, ndiponso kumveka kwa mawu. Anthu amene amamva mawuwo anapempha kuti asawayankhulenso mawu ena. 20Iwo anachita mantha ndi lamulo lija lakuti, “Ngakhale nyama ikangokhudza phirilo, iphedwe ndi miyala.” 21Maonekedwenso a Mose anali woopsa kwambiri, ngakhale Mose yemwe anati, “Ine ndinachita mantha ndi kunjenjemera.”
22Koma inu mwafika ku Phiri la Ziyoni, ku mzinda wa Mulungu wamoyo, Yerusalemu wakumwamba. Mwafika mu msonkhano wa angelo osangalala osawerengeka. 23Mwafika mu mpingo wa ana oyamba kubadwa, amene mayina awo analembedwa kumwamba. Inu mwafika kwa Mulungu, woweruza anthu onse, ndiponso kwa mizimu ya anthu olungama ndi osandutsidwa kukhala angwiro. 24Kwa Yesu mʼkhalapakati wa pangano latsopano, ndiponso mwafika ku magazi owazidwa amene amayankhula mawu abwino kuposa magazi a Abele.
25Chenjerani kuti musakane kumvera amene akuyankhula nanu. Anthu amene anakana kumvera iye amene anawachenjeza uja pa dziko lapansi pano, sanapulumuke ku chilango ayi, nanga tsono ife tidzapulumuka bwanji ngati tikufulatira wotichenjeza wochokera kumwamba? 26Pa nthawiyo mawu ake anagwedeza dziko lapansi, koma tsopano Iye walonjeza kuti, “Kamodzi kenanso ndidzagwedeza osati dziko lapansi lokha komanso thambo.” 27Mawu akuti, “Kamodzi kenanso,” akuonetsa kuchotsedwa kwa zimene zitha kugwedezeka, zonse zolengedwa, kotero kuti zimene sizingatheke kugwedezeka zitsale.
28Popeza tikulandira ufumu umene sungagwedezeke, tiyeni tikhale oyamika ndi kupembedza Mulungu movomerezeka ndi mwaulemu ndi mantha. 29Pakuti Mulungu wathu ndi moto wonyeketsa.
