and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. ¹  Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked ²  night and day in order not to burden any of you.

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.”

They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

And he says ¹  of the angels, “He makes ²  his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,” ³ 

but of ¹  the Son he says, ²  “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, ³  and a righteous scepter ⁴  is the scepter of your kingdom.

But to which of the angels ¹  has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? ² 

And no creature is hidden from God, ¹  but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

For every high priest is taken from among the people ¹  and appointed ²  to represent them before God, ³  to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, ¹  who said to him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,” ² 

But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.

but Jesus ¹  did so ²  with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” ³  –

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, ¹ 

For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. ¹  But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness ²  for those trained by it.

You ¹  do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? ²  For you are a puff of smoke ³  that appears for a short time and then vanishes.

I can pray this because his divine power ¹  has bestowed on us everything necessary ²  for life and godliness through the rich knowledge ³  of the one who called ⁴  us by ⁵  his own glory and excellence.

(My little children, ¹  I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. ² ) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate ³  with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, ⁴ 

And this is the confidence that we have before him: that ¹  whenever ²  we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, ¹ 

But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face. ¹  (1:15) Peace be with you. ²  The friends here ³  greet you. Greet the friends ⁴  there ⁵  by name.