9. Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10. For they verily for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
11. All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous, but grievous: yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.
12. Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;
13. and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
14. Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
15. looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;
16. lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.
17. For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected (for he found no place of repentance), though he sought it diligently with tears.
18. For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19. and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them:
20. for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;
21. and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:
22. but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,
23. to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24. and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.
25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not, when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape, who turn away from him that warneth from heaven: