Hebrews 12 – NIVUK & ASCB

New International Version – UK

Hebrews 12:1-29

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 that was 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. 17Afterwards, 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

Asante Twi Contemporary Bible

Hebrifoɔ 12:1-29

Yɛn Agya Nyankopɔn

1Yɛn deɛ, yɛwɔ adansefoɔ bebree a wɔatwa yɛn ho ahyia. Momma yɛntwe yɛn ho mfiri akwansideɛ nyinaa ne bɔne a akyekyere yɛn dendeenden no nyinaa ho na yɛnyere yɛn ho wɔ mmirikakansie a ɛda yɛn anim no. 2Momma yɛmfa yɛn ani nto Yesu a yɛn gyidie ahyɛaseɛ ne nʼawieeɛ gyina ne so no so. Asɛnnua no enti, wampa aba. Esiane anigyeɛ a na ɛretwɛn no no enti, animguasewuo a ɔwuu wɔ asɛnnua so no anha no. Enti, seesei ɔte Onyankopɔn ahennwa no nifa so. 3Dwene ɔhaw a ɔfaa mu no ho sɛ nnipa nnebɔneyɛfoɔ tan a wɔtanee no nso, ɔtumi gyinaa ano no. Ɛno enti mommpa aba. 4Na mo ne bɔne ko mu no, monnko nkɔduruu sɛ mobɛhwie mogya agu.

Onyankopɔn Asotwe Fata Yɛn

5Mo werɛ afiri nkuranhyɛsɛm a Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ mo sɛ ne mma no sɛ,

“Me ba, sɛ Awurade tene wo so a, tie no yie,

na sɛ ɔka wʼanim a, mpa aba.

6Ɛfiri sɛ, obiara a Awurade pɛ nʼasɛm no, ɔtwe nʼaso,

sɛdeɛ agya tene ɔba a ɔdɔ no so no.”

7Amanehunu biara a ɛbɛto mo no, monnhinhim na momfa no sɛ Agya no ntenesoɔ, ɛfiri sɛ, mo amanehunu no kyerɛ ntenesoɔ a Onyankopɔn retene mo so sɛ ne mma. Ɔba bi wɔ hɔ a nʼagya ntene ne so da? 8Sɛ wantene mo so sɛ ne mma no bi a, na ɛkyerɛ sɛ monnyɛ ne mma kann. 9Sɛ yɛn agyanom a wɔwɔ asase so twee yɛn aso maa yɛbuu wɔn a, mpɛn ahe na ɛnsɛ sɛ yɛbrɛ yɛn ho ase ma honhom mu Agya no na yɛtumi tena ase? 10Yɛn agyanom a wɔwɔ asase so ha twee yɛn aso sɛdeɛ wɔpɛ ɛberɛ tiawa bi. Nanso, yɛn yiedie enti, Onyankopɔn yɛɛ saa sɛdeɛ yɛn ho bɛte. 11Sɛ wɔtwe yɛn aso a, ɛma yɛn werɛ ho saa ɛberɛ no mu, na yɛn ani nnye. Na akyire no, wɔn a wɔfa saa asotwe no mu na wɔnya wɔn ho nteaseɛ no, wɔnya asomdwoeɛ na wɔtena ase tenenee mu.

12Montenetene nsa ne nkotodwe a emu agogo no mu. 13Monsiesie akwan na momfa so, na mpakye anyɛ mmubuafoɔ, na mmom, wɔasa wɔn yadeɛ.

14Mo ne nnipa nyinaa ntena ase asomdwoeɛ mu, na mommɔ mmɔden ntena ase tenenee mu. Anyɛ saa a, morenhunu Awurade. 15Monhwɛ yie na mo mu bi annane nʼakyi ankyerɛ Onyankopɔn adom no. Monhwɛ yie na mo mu bi anyɛ sɛ afifideɛ a ɛyɛ nwono a ɛnyini ma ne bɔnwoma no ha afoforɔ. 16Monhwɛ yie na mo mu bi anyɛ odwamanfoɔ ne obi a ɔmfɛre Onyankopɔn sɛ Esau a ɔbuu nʼani guu nʼagyapadeɛ so tɔnee nʼabakan de gyee aduane no. 17Na afei ɛduruu ɛberɛ bi a ɔpɛɛ sɛ ne nsa ka nʼagya hɔ nhyira no, ɔde kamee no no. Ɛwom sɛ ɔde nisuo peree sɛ wanya adwensakyera deɛ, nanso anyɛ yie.

Onyankopɔn Animuonyam

18Monhyiaa nneɛma a ɛyɛ hu, ogyaframa, awerɛhoɔ, esum ne ahum sɛdeɛ Israelfoɔ no hyiaa Sinai Bepɔ no so ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn de ne mmara no maeɛ no. 19Ɛfiri sɛ, na wɔrebɔ totorobɛnto dendeenden a ɛnne bi a ɛreka kasa a ɛyɛ hu nenam mu, enti nnipa no srɛɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔnnyae kasa, 20ɛfiri sɛ, na wɔntumi nni mmara a na ɛka sɛ, “Sɛ mpo aboa koraa de ne ho ka bepɔ no a, ɛsɛ sɛ wɔsi no aboɔ kum no” no so. 21Na beaeɛ hɔ yɛ hu ara kɔsii sɛ Mose kaa sɛ. “Mesuro, na me ho popo.”

22Na mo deɛ moaba Sion Bepɔ so ne Onyankopɔn a ɔte ase no kuro, ɔsorosoro Yerusalem a ɔsoro abɔfoɔ mpempem wɔ mu no mu. 23Moaba Onyankopɔn asafo mma dada a wɔn ani gye wɔn ho a wɔatwerɛ wɔn din wɔ ɔsoro no mu. Moaba Onyankopɔn a ɔyɛ nnipa nyinaa ɔtemmufoɔ ne ateneneefoɔ a wɔayɛ wɔn pɛ no mu. 24Moaba Yesu a ɔhyehyɛɛ apam foforɔ ne mogya a wɔapete a ɛka nneɛma pa ho asɛm sene Habel mogya no ho.

25Monhwɛ mo ho so yie na moammu mo ani angu asɛm a ɔka so. Wɔn a wɔantie deɛ ɔkasa firii asase so no amfa wɔn ho anni. Na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na yɛatumi adwane afiri deɛ ɔkasa firi ɔsoro no ho? 26Ne nne wosoo asase saa ɛberɛ no, nanso seesei wahyɛ bɔ sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ asase nko na mɛsane awoso no, na mɛwoso soro nso bio saa ara.” 27Nsɛm “Nso bio saa ara” no da no adi pefee sɛ ɔbɛwoso nneɛma a wɔbɔeɛ no na atutu afiri wɔn ananmu na nneɛma a wɔntumi nwoso no aka.

28Momma yɛnna so ase, ɛfiri sɛ, yɛanya ahennie a wɔwoso no a ɛnyɛ yie. Momma yɛn ani nsɔ na yɛmfa ɛkwan a ɛbɛsɔ Onyankopɔn ani a ɛyɛ anidie ne suro so nsom no, 29ɛfiri sɛ, nokorɛ ni, yɛn Onyankopɔn yɛ ogya a ɛhye na ɛsɛe adeɛ.