Hebrews 13

13:1 Go on loving each other as brothers. 13:2 Do not forget to receive as guests the strangers who come to you. Some people have had angels in their homes and they did not know it. 13:3 Remember to help those who are in prison because they are Christians, as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who suffer, as if you have the same troubles as they have. 13:4 All should respect marriage and must not have wrong sex. God will be the judge of all who have sex with the partner of another and all who have wrong sex. 13:5 Do not let the love of money control your life. Be satisfied with what you have. God has said, ‘I will never leave you or let you be alone’ (Deuteronomy 31:6). 13:6 So we can be bold and say, ‘The Lord is my helper. I am not afraid of anything that people can do to me’ (Psalm 118:6).

13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Look at the results of their lives and copy their trust in God. 13:8 Jesus Christ does not change. He is the same yesterday and today and always.

13:9 Do not let all kinds of strange things that some people teach lead you away from God. It is good to make our hearts strong by the goodness of God. Rules about food do not make hearts strong. Those who obey rules about what they should eat do not gain anything by it. 13:10 We who have trust in Jesus have an altar from which those who minister in the special tent on earth have no right to eat. 13:11 The chief priest took the blood of animals to the most holy place. There he gave it to God as an offering for sin. They burned the bodies outside the camp. 13:12 So Jesus had to suffer outside the gate of the city. He died to make the people holy by his own blood.

13:13 So let us go to him outside the camp, and share his shame. 13:14 Here on earth we do not have a city that will last. We are looking for the city that is to come. 13:15 Let us offer a sacrifice of praise to God at all times. That is the fruit of our lips as we give thanks to his name. 13:16 Do not forget to do good and to share what you have. Such sacrifices please God.

13:17 Obey your leaders and do what they say. They watch over you as men who have to give an account of their service for God. Let their task be a joy to them and not a pain, for that would do you no good.

13:18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a good conscience as we always want to do what is right. 13:19 I want you to pray hard for me to be able to come to you soon.

13:20 God is the God of the quiet heart. He raised our Lord Jesus from the dead, by the blood of the new agreement that lasts always. Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep. 13:21 May God give you everything good that you need to do what he wants. May God do all that he wants to do in our lives through Jesus Christ. To him there will be honour for all time and always. Amen.

13:22 My brothers, I appeal to you to accept the words I have written to help you. This is only a short letter that I have written to you. 13:23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy is out of prison. If he comes soon, I shall bring him with me when I come to see you. 13:24 Say hello for me to your leaders and to all who belong to Christ. The believers from Italy who are here greet you. 13:25 I pray that the goodness of God will be with you all.