1Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2of teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this we will do, if God permits. 4For as concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made sharers of the Holy Spirit, 5and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6and [then] fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7For the land which has drank the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God: 8but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is disapproved and near to a curse; whose end is to be burned. 9But we are persuaded of you{+}, beloved, better things that follow salvation, though we thus speak: 10for God is not unrighteous to forget your{+} work and the love which you{+} showed toward his name, in that you{+} served the saints, and still do serve. 11And we desire that each of you{+} may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end: 12that you{+} are not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, 14saying, Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. 15And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. 17In which God, being minded to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; 18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: 19which we have as an anchor of the soul; both sure and steadfast; and entering into that which is inside the veil; 20where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.