Service that pleases God
Service That Pleases God
1 Let brotherly love continue.
1 Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
2 Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
3 Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
4 Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
5 Don’t fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
6 That should make you feel like saying, “The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?”
7 Remember them which have the rulea over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
7 Don’t forget about your leaders who taught you God’s message. Remember what kind of lives they lived and try to have faith like theirs.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
8 Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
9 Don’t be fooled by any kind of strange teachings. It is better to receive strength from God’s undeserved kindness than to depend on certain foods. After all, these foods don’t really help the people who eat them.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
10 But we have an altar where even the priests who serve in the place of worship have no right to eat.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
11 After the high priest offers the blood of animals as a sin offering, the bodies of those animals are burned outside the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
12 Jesus himself suffered outside the city gate, so that his blood would make people holy.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
13 That’s why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace.
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
14 On this earth we don’t have a city that lasts forever, but we are waiting for such a city.
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
15 Our sacrifice is to keep offering praise to God in the name of Jesus.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
16 But don’t forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
17 Obey your leaders and do what they say. They are watching over you, and they must answer to God. So don’t make them sad as they do their work. Make them happy. Otherwise, they won’t be able to help you at all.
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenantb,
20 God gives peace, and he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death. Now Jesus is like a Great Shepherd whose blood was used to make God’s eternal agreement with his flock.
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, workingc in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 I pray that God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right. May Jesus help you do what pleases God. To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen.
