1 Wherefore intermitting the word of the beginning of Christ, let us proceed to perfection, not again laying the foundation of penance from dead works, & of faith toward God,
1 Wherefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect, not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works, and of faith towards God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms, & of imposition of hands, & of the resurrection of the dead, & of eternal judgement.
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this shall we do, if God will permit.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for them that were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, & were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
4 ¹For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 have more-over tasted the good word of God, & the powers of the world to come,
5 Have moreover tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 and are fallen, to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery.
6 And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery.
7 For the earth drinking the rain often coming upon it, & bringing forth grass commodious for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing of God.
7 For the earth that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.
8 But bringing forth thorns and briers, it is reprobate, and very near a curse, whose end is, to be burnt.
8 But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers, is reprobate, and very near unto a curse, whose end is to be burnt.
9 But we confidently trust of you, my best beloved, better things and nearer to salvation; although we speak thus.
9 But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.
10 For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work & love which you have shewed in his name, which have ministered to the saints and do minister.
10 For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shown in his name, you who have ministered, and do minister to the saints.
11 And our desire is that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:
11 And we desire that everyone of you show forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:
12 that you become not slothful, but imitators of them which by faith and patience shall inherit the promises.
12 That you become not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.
13 For God promising to Abraham, because he had none greater by whom he might swear, he sware by himself,
13 For God making promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,
14 saying, Unless blessing I shall bless thee, and multiplying shall multiply thee.
14 Saying: ²Unless blessing I shall bless thee, and multiplying I shall multiply thee.
15 And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.
15 And so patiently enduring he obtained the promise.
16 For men swear by a greater than themselves: and the end of all their controversy, for the confirmation, is an oath.
16 For men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.
17 Wherein God meaning more aboundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the stability of his counsel, he interposed an oath:
17 Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:
18 that by two things unmoveable, whereby it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a most strong comfort. Who have fled to hold fast the hope proposed,
18 That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest comfort, who have fled for refuge to hold fast the hope set before us.
19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and going in into the inner parts of the veil,
19 Which we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, and which entereth in even within the veil;
20 where Jesus the precursor for us is entered, made a high Priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
20 Where the forerunner Jesus is entered for us, made a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.