Hebräer 4,13 | New International Reader’s Version

God’s people enter his Sabbath rest

1 God’s promise of enjoying his rest still stands. So be careful that none of you fails to receive it.

2 The good news was announced to our people of long ago. It has also been preached to us. The message they heard didn’t have any value for them. That’s because they didn’t share the faith of those who obeyed.

3 Now we who have believed enjoy that rest. God said, ‘When I was angry, I made a promise. I said, “They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.” ’ Ever since God created the world, his works have been finished.

4 Somewhere he spoke about the seventh day. He said, ‘On the seventh day God rested from all his works.’

5 In the part of Scripture I talked about earlier God spoke. He said, ‘They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.’

6 It is still true that some people will enjoy this rest. But those who had the good news announced to them earlier didn’t go in. That’s because they didn’t obey.

7 So God again chose a certain day. He named it Today. He did this when he spoke through David a long time later. Here is what was written in the Scripture already given. ‘Listen to his voice today. If you hear it, don’t be stubborn.’

8 Suppose Joshua had given them rest. If he had, God would not have spoken later about another day.

9 So there is still a Sabbath rest for God’s people.

10 God rested from his work. Those who enjoy God’s rest also rest from their works.

11 So let us make every effort to enjoy that rest. Then no one will die by disobeying as they did.

12 The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

13 Nothing God created is hidden from him. His eyes see everything. He will hold us responsible for everything we do.

Jesus is the great high priest

14 We have a great high priest. He has gone up into heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us hold firmly to what we say we believe.

15 We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin.

16 So let us boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.

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English Standard Version

1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.*

3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

5 And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God* would not have spoken of another day later on.

9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,

10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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