God Disciplines His Sons

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, {do} not take lightly [the] discipline of [the] Lord, and [do not] lose heart [when] He rebukes you.

6 For [the] Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”[fn]

7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined [by his] father? 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Furthermore we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined [us], and we respected [them]. {Should we} not much more submit to the Father of [our] spirits and live?

10 [Our fathers] disciplined [us] for a short time as they thought best, but [God disciplines us] for [our] good, so that we may share in His holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness [and] peace[fn] to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore strengthen [your] limp hands and weak knees.[fn] 13 Make straight paths for your feet,[fn] so that the lame {may} not be disabled, but rather healed.