Προς Εβραιους 4

1 φοβηθωμεν ουν μηποτε καταλειπομενης επαγγελιας εισελθειν εις την καταπαυσιν αυτου δοκη τις εξ υμων υστερηκεναι

We must, therefore, be very careful, though there is a promise still standing that we will enter upon God’s rest, that none of you even appear to have missed it.

2 και γαρ εσμεν ευηγγελισμενοι καθαπερ κακεινοι αλλ ουκ ωφελησεν ο λογος της ακοης εκεινους μη συγκεκερασμενους τη πιστει τοις ακουσασιν

For we have had the good news told us just as they had. But the message which they heard did them no good, since they did not share the faith of those who were attentive to it.

3 εισερχομεθα γαρ εις [την] καταπαυσιν οι πιστευσαντες καθως ειρηκεν ως ωμοσα εν τη οργη μου ει εισελευσονται εις την καταπαυσιν μου καιτοι των εργων απο καταβολης κοσμου γενηθεντων

Upon that rest we who have believed are now entering. As God has said – ‘In my wrath I swore – “They will never enter upon my rest;”’ Although God’s work was finished at the creation of the world;

4 ειρηκεν γαρ που περι της εβδομης ουτως και κατεπαυσεν ο θεος εν τη ημερα τη εβδομη απο παντων των εργων αυτου

for, in a passage referring to the seventh day, you will find these words – ‘God rested on the seventh day after all his work.’

5 και εν τουτω παλιν ει εισελευσονται εις την καταπαυσιν μου

On the other hand, we read in that passage – ‘They will never enter upon my rest.’

6 επει ουν απολειπεται τινας εισελθειν εις αυτην και οι προτερον ευαγγελισθεντες ουκ εισηλθον δι απειθειαν

Since, then, there is still a promise that some will enter upon this rest, and since those who were first told the good news did not enter upon it, because of their disbelief,

7 παλιν τινα οριζει ημεραν σημερον εν δαυιδ λεγων μετα τοσουτον χρονον καθως προειρηται σημερον εαν της φωνης αυτου ακουσητε μη σκληρυνητε τας καρδιας υμων

again God fixed a day. ‘Today,’ he said, speaking after a long interval through the mouth of David, in the passage already quoted – ‘If today you hear God’s voice harden not your hearts.’

8 ει γαρ αυτους ιησους κατεπαυσεν ουκ αν περι αλλης ελαλει μετα ταυτα ημερας

Now if Joshua had given ‘rest’ to the people, God would not have spoken of another and later day.

9 αρα απολειπεται σαββατισμος τω λαω του θεου

There is, then, a Sabbath rest still awaiting God’s people.

10 ο γαρ εισελθων εις την καταπαυσιν αυτου και αυτος κατεπαυσεν απο των εργων αυτου ωσπερ απο των ιδιων ο θεος

For the person who enters upon God’s rest do themselves rest after their work, just as God did.

11 σπουδασωμεν ουν εισελθειν εις εκεινην την καταπαυσιν ινα μη εν τω αυτω τις υποδειγματι πεση της απειθειας

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter upon that rest, so that none of us fall through such disbelief as that of which we have had an example.

12 ζων γαρ ο λογος του θεου και ενεργης και τομωτερος υπερ πασαν μαχαιραν διστομον και διικνουμενος αχρι μερισμου ψυχης και πνευματος αρμων τε και μυελων και κριτικος ενθυμησεων και εννοιων καρδιας

God’s message is a living and active power, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing its way until it penetrates soul and spirit – not the joints only but the marrow – and detecting the inmost thoughts and purposes of the mind.

13 και ουκ εστιν κτισις αφανης ενωπιον αυτου παντα δε γυμνα και τετραχηλισμενα τοις οφθαλμοις αυτου προς ον ημιν ο λογος

There is no created thing that can hide itself from the sight of God. Everything is exposed and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we have to give account.

14 εχοντες ουν αρχιερεα μεγαν διεληλυθοτα τους ουρανους ιησουν τον υιον του θεου κρατωμεν της ομολογιας

We have, then, in Jesus, the Son of God, a great high priest who has passed into the highest heaven; let us, therefore, hold fast to the faith which we have professed.

15 ου γαρ εχομεν αρχιερεα μη δυναμενον συμπαθησαι ταις ασθενειαις ημων πεπειρασμενον δε κατα παντα καθ ομοιοτητα χωρις αμαρτιας

Our high priest is not one unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has in every way been tempted, exactly as we have been, but without sinning.

16 προσερχωμεθα ουν μετα παρρησιας τω θρονω της χαριτος ινα λαβωμεν ελεος και χαριν ευρωμεν εις ευκαιρον βοηθειαν

Therefore, let us draw near boldly to the throne of love, to find pity and love for the hour of need.