6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
6:1 Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God,

6:2 with instruction about ablutions, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
6:2 instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

6:3 And this we will do if God permits.
6:3 And we will do this, if God permits.

6:4 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
6:4 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,

6:5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6:5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,

6:6 if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.
6:6 and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt.

6:7 For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
6:7 Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

6:8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned.
6:8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.

6:9 Though we speak thus, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things that belong to salvation.
6:9 Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation.

6:10 For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.
6:10 For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.

6:11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end,
6:11 And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end,

6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
6:12 so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
6:13 When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,

6:14 saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you."
6:14 saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply you."

6:15 And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.
6:15 And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.

6:16 Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
6:16 Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute.

6:17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath,
6:17 In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath,

6:18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
6:18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.

6:19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain,
6:19 We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain,

6:20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchiz'edek.
6:20 where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.