Hebrews 13

13 ¹Let love for one another as family continue. ²Don't forget hospitality to strangers; through it some have hosted angels unaware. ³Remember prisoners as though chained with them, and the mistreated, since you too are in the body. ⁴Marriage should be honored among all, the marriage bed kept pure—our Father will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

⁵Keep your life free from the love of money; be content with what you have, for our Father himself has said, "I will never leave you, never abandon you."

⁶So we say with confidence: Our Father is my helper; I will not fear. What can anyone do to me? ^a a v6 The writer quotes Psalm 118:6 — the cry of trust spoken by every covenant child who has found our Father as their helper.

⁷Remember your leaders who spoke our Father's word to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹Don't be swept away by strange, varied teachings. It's good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods—those who live by them gain nothing. ¹⁰We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. ¹¹For the bodies of animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary for sin are burned outside the camp. ¹²So Jesus also suffered outside the gate to make the people holy through his own blood. ¹³Therefore let us go out to him outside the camp, bearing the shame he endured. ¹⁴For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the city that is to come.

¹⁵Through him, then, let us always offer our Father a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips confessing his name. ¹⁶Don't forget to do good and share what you have—such sacrifices please our Father.

¹⁷Obey your leaders and submit to them—they watch over your souls, since they'll answer for you. Let them do this joyfully, not with groaning, for that profits you nothing.

¹⁸Pray for us, since we're sure our conscience is clear, wanting to act honorably in everything. ¹⁹I urge you even more to do this, so I may be restored to you sooner.

²⁰May our Father of peace, who raised our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—from the dead by the blood of the eternal covenant, ^b b v20 Our Father raised Jesus from the dead and made him the great Shepherd of his sheep — the same Shepherd who said, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11). The Father and the Son together gather and keep the flock. ²¹complete you in every good thing to do his will, working in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

²²Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with this word of encouragement—I've written only briefly. ²³Know that our brother Timothy has been released; if he comes soon, I will see you with him.

²⁴Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.

²⁵Grace be with you all. Amen.