¶ Therefore leaving¹ the principles of the doctrine² of Christ, let³ us go on unto perfection; not laying⁴ again the foundation of repentance⁵ from dead⁶ works, and of faith⁷ toward God,

Of the doctrine⁸ of baptisms, and of laying⁹ on of hands, and of resurrection¹⁰ of the dead, and of eternal¹¹ judgment.

And this will we do, if¹² God permit.

For it is¹³ impossible for those who were once¹⁴ enlightened, and have¹⁵ tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers¹⁶ of the Holy Ghost,

And have tasted¹⁷ the good word of God, and the powers¹⁸ of the world to come,

If they shall fall away, to renew¹⁹ them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify²⁰ to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open²¹ shame.

For the earth²² which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by²³ whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

But that which beareth²⁴ thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose²⁵ end is to be burned.

¶ But, beloved²⁶, we are persuaded better things²⁷ of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

¶ For²⁸ God²⁹ is not unrighteous to forget³⁰ your work³¹ and labour of love, which³² ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

And we desire³³ that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the³⁴ full assurance of hope³⁵ unto³⁶ the end:

That ye³⁷ be not slothful, but³⁸ followers of them who through faith³⁹ and patience inherit⁴⁰ the promises.

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware⁴¹ by himself,

Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying⁴² I will multiply thee.

⁴³And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

For men verily swear⁴⁴ by the greater: and an oath⁴⁵ for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Wherein God, willing more⁴⁶ abundantly to shew unto the heirs⁴⁷ of promise the immutability⁴⁸ of his counsel, confirmed it⁴⁹ by an oath:

That by two⁵⁰ immutable things, in which it was impossible⁵¹ for God to lie, we might⁵² have a strong consolation, who⁵³ have fled for refuge to lay⁵⁴ hold upon the hope⁵⁵ set⁵⁶ before us:

Which hope we have as an⁵⁷ anchor of the soul, both⁵⁸ sure and stedfast, and which entereth⁵⁹ into that within the veil;

¶ Whither the forerunner⁶⁰ is for⁶¹ us entered, even Jesus, made an⁶² high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.