^{1 Ref} Wherefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Christ, unto the perfection we may advance, not again a foundation laying of reformation from dead works, and of faith on God,

^{2 Ref} of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on also of hands, of rising again also of the dead, and of judgment age-during,

^{3 Ref} and this we will do, if God may permit,

^{4 Ref} for `it is' impossible for those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit,

^{5 Ref} and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age,

^{6 Ref} and having fallen away, again to renew `them' to reformation, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God, and exposed to public shame.

^{7 Ref} For earth, that is drinking in the rain many times coming upon it, and is bringing forth herbs fit for those because of whom also it is dressed, doth partake of blessing from God,

^{8 Ref} and that which is bearing thorns and briers `is' disapproved of, and nigh to cursing, whose end `is' for burning;

^{9 Ref} and we are persuaded, concerning you, beloved, the things that are better, and accompanying salvation, though even thus we speak,

^{10 Ref} for God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and the labour of the love, that ye shewed to His name, having ministered to the saints and ministering;

^{11 Ref} and we desire each one of you the same diligence to shew, unto the full assurance of the hope unto the end,

^{12 Ref} that ye may not become slothful, but followers of those who through faith and patient endurance are inheriting the promises.

^{13 Ref} For to Abraham God, having made promise, seeing He was able to swear by no greater, did swear by Himself,

^{14 Ref} saying, `Blessing indeed I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee;'

^{15 Ref} and so, having patiently endured, he did obtain the promise;

^{16 Ref} for men indeed do swear by the greater, and an end of all controversy to them for confirmation `is' the oath,

^{17 Ref} in which God, more abundantly willing to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, did interpose by an oath,

^{18 Ref} that through two immutable things, in which `it is' impossible for God to lie, a strong comfort we may have who did flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before `us',

^{19 Ref} which we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and entering into that within the vail,

^{20 Ref} whither a forerunner for us did enter -- Jesus, after the order of Melchisedek chief priest having become -- to the age.

^{1 Ref} Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

^{2 Ref} Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

^{3 Ref} And this will we do, if God permit.

^{4 Ref} For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

^{5 Ref} And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

^{6 Ref} If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

^{7 Ref} For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

^{8 Ref} But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

^{9 Ref} But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

^{10 Ref} For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

^{11 Ref} And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

^{12 Ref} That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

^{13 Ref} For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

^{14 Ref} Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

^{15 Ref} And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

^{16 Ref} For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

^{17 Ref} Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

^{18 Ref} That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

^{19 Ref} Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

^{20 Ref} Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

^{1 Ref} Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

^{2 Ref} of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

^{3 Ref} This will we do, if God permits.

^{4 Ref} For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

^{5 Ref} and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

^{6 Ref} and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

^{7 Ref} For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;

^{8 Ref} but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

^{9 Ref} But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

^{10 Ref} For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

^{11 Ref} We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,

^{12 Ref} that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.

^{13 Ref} For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself,

^{14 Ref} saying, "Most surely I will bless you, and I will surely multiply you."

^{15 Ref} Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

^{16 Ref} For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

^{17 Ref} In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;

^{18 Ref} that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.

^{19 Ref} This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

^{20 Ref} where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.