¹ Hence, after we left the word of the beginning principles of Christ, let us be carried forward to maturity, not putting down again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith upon God,

² of teaching of immersions$ {i.e., O.T. ceremonial washings} and of the laying upon of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and of everlasting judgment.

³ And we might do$ this, if indeed$ God permits$.

⁴ For$ it is impossible, regarding the ones who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift and became partakers of the Holy Spirit

⁵ and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the future world

⁶ and who fell-away, to renew them again to repentance, because they are again crucifying for themselves the Son of God and disgracing him.

⁷ For$ the soil which drank the rainfall that often comes upon it, is bearing forth vegetation fit for those because of whom it is also cultivated, receives blessing from God.

⁸ But the soil bringing forth thorns and thistles, it is unapproved and near to a curse, whose end is $for burning.

⁹ But beloved, even if we speak so, we have confidence of the better things concerning you°, even those things being held to salvation.

¹⁰ For$ God is not unrighteous to forget your° work and the labor of the love$ which you° showed toward his name, when you° served the holy-ones and are serving them.

¹¹ But we are desiring each of you° to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope till the end,

¹² in-order-that you° should not become sluggish, but imitators of the ones inheriting the promises through faith and patience.

¹³ For$ after God promised to Abraham, since he was holding no one greater to swear according-to, he swore according-to himself,

¹⁴ saying, Absolutely in blessing, I will bless you and in multiplying, I will multiply you. {Gen 22:17}

¹⁵ And thus Abraham, had patience, obtained the promise.

¹⁶ For$ indeed, men swear according-to the greater, and the oath made $for confirmation is an ending in every contradiction with them,

¹⁷ in which God, planning to show even-more to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable will of his plan, intermediated this with an oath,

¹⁸ in-order-that through two unchangeable matters, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, when we fled for refuge to take-hold of the hope laying before us.

¹⁹ This hope, which we have as an anchor of the soul, is both secure and steadfast and entering into the inner side of the curtain,

²⁰ where a forerunner, Jesus, entered on our behalf, when he became a high-priest forever according-to the order of Melchizedek.