Hebrews 13 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

VI. Final Exhortation, Blessing, Greetings

Chapter 13

1 [a]Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.(A) 3 Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body.(B) 4 Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.(C) 5 Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.”(D) 6 Thus we may say with confidence:

“The Lord is my helper,
[and] I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?”(E)

7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.(F)

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching.[b] It is good to have our hearts strengthened by grace and not by foods, which do not benefit those who live by them.(G) 10 We have an altar[c] from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 The bodies of the animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.(H) 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people by his own blood.(I) 13 Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that he bore. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come.(J) 15 Through him [then] let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.(K) 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.(L)

17 [d]Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us, for we are confident that we have a clear conscience, wishing to act rightly in every respect. 19 I especially ask for your prayers that I may be restored to you very soon.

20 [e]May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord,(M) 21 furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever [and ever]. Amen.

22 Brothers, I ask you to bear with this message of encouragement, for I have written to you rather briefly. 23 I must let you know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, I shall see you together with him.(N) 24 Greetings to all your leaders and to all the holy ones. Those from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.(O)

Footnotes

  1. 13:1–16 After recommendations on social and moral matters (Hb 13:1–6), the letter turns to doctrinal issues. The fact that the original leaders are dead should not cause the recipients of this letter to lose their faith (Hb 13:7), for Christ still lives and he remains always the same (Hb 13:8). They must not rely for their personal sanctification on regulations concerning foods (Hb 13:9), nor should they entertain the notion that Judaism and Christianity can be intermingled (Hb 13:10; cf. notes on Gal 2:11–14; 2:15–21). As Jesus died separated from his own people, so must the Christian community remain apart from the religious doctrines of Judaism (Hb 13:11–14). Christ must be the heart and center of the community (Hb 13:15–16).
  2. 13:9 Strange teaching: this doctrine about foods probably refers to the Jewish food laws; in view of Hb 13:10, however, the author may be thinking of the Mosaic sacrificial banquets.
  3. 13:10 We have an altar: this does not refer to the Eucharist, which is never clearly mentioned in Hebrews, but to the sacrifice of Christ.
  4. 13:17–25 Recommending obedience to the leaders of the community, the author asks for prayers (Hb 13:17–19). The letter concludes with a blessing (Hb 13:20–21), a final request for the acceptance of its message (Hb 13:22), information regarding Timothy (Hb 13:23), and general greetings (Hb 13:24–25).
  5. 13:20–21 These verses constitute one of the most beautiful blessings in the New Testament. The resurrection of Jesus is presupposed throughout Hebrews, since it is included in the author’s frequently expressed idea of his exaltation, but this is the only place where it is explicitly mentioned.

Cross references

  1. 13:2 : Gn 18:3; 19:2–3; Jgs 6:11–22; Tb 5:4.
  2. 13:3 : Mt 25:36.
  3. 13:4 : 1 Cor 5:13; Eph 5:5.
  4. 13:5 : Dt 31:6, 8; Jos 1:5.
  5. 13:6 : Ps 27:1–3; 118:6.
  6. 13:8 : 1:12; 7:24; Rev 1:17.
  7. 13:9 : Rom 14:17; 1 Cor 8:8; Eph 4:14; Col 2:16.
  8. 13:11 : Ex 29:14; Lv 16:27.
  9. 13:12 : Mt 21:39; Mk 12:8; Lk 20:15; Jn 19:17.
  10. 13:14 : 11:10, 14.
  11. 13:15 : Hos 14:3.
  12. 13:16 : Phil 4:18.
  13. 13:20 : Is 63:11; Zec 9:11; Jn 10:11; Acts 2:24; Rom 15:33.
  14. 13:23 : Acts 16:1.
  15. 13:25 : Ti 3:15.

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13 Let brotherly love remain; 2 of the hospitality be not forgetful, for through this unawares certain did entertain messengers; 3 be mindful of those in bonds, as having been bound with them, of those maltreated, as also yourselves being in the body; 4 honourable [is] the marriage in all, and the b...
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Hebrews 13 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

13 The charity of brotherhood dwell in you, 2 and do not ye forget hospitality; for by this some men pleased to angels, that were received to harbour [for by this some pleased to angels received to harbour]. 3 Think ye on bound men, as ye were together bound [Be ye mindful of bound men, as ye toge...
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Hebrews 13 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

13 Keep on loving your Christian brothers. 2 Take strangers to your home and care for them. Some people who have done this found out the strangers were angels. 3 Remember those who are in prison as if you were in prison with them. And remember those who are having troubles, as if you were having the...
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Hebrews 13 - World English Bible (WEB)

13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor ...
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Hebrews 13 - The Voice (VOICE)

13 Let love continue among you. 2 Don’t forget to extend your hospitality to all—even to strangers—for as you know, some have unknowingly shown kindness to heavenly messengers in this way. 3 Remember those imprisoned for their beliefs as if you were their cellmate; and care for any who suffer hars...
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Hebrews 13 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Brotherly Love in the Community13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers—for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners as if you were fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you also were suffering bo...
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Hebrews 13 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Service Well-Pleasing to God13 [a]Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body. 4 ...
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Hebrews 13 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Service Well-Pleasing to God13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let...
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Hebrews 13 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers. For thereby some have unknowingly received angels into their houses. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though you were bound with them; and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Marriage is honorable among all, ...
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Hebrews 13 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Practical Life of God’s People13 Let the family continue to care for one another. 2 Don’t forget to be hospitable; by that means, some people have entertained angels without realizing it. 3 Remember people in prison, as though you were in prison with them. When you think of people who are havi...
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Hebrews 13 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Service Well-Pleasing to God13 Let mutual love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you you...
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Hebrews 13 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Service Well-Pleasing to God13 Let mutual affection continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.(A)3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, those who are being tortured, as though yo...
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Hebrews 13 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

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Hebrews 13 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Concluding Words13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.[a] 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if y...
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Hebrews 13 - New Life Version (NLV)

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