A Serious Warning Against Continuing Deliberate Sin

26 For if[fn] we keep on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that is about to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think the person will be considered worthy of who treats with disdain the Son of God and who considers ordinary the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy and who insults the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who said,

• “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,”[fn]

and again,

• “The Lord will judge his people.”[fn]

31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But remember the former days in which, after you[fn] were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed both to insults and to afflictions, and sometimes becoming sharers with those who were treated in this way. 34 For you both sympathized with the prisoners and put up with the seizure of your belongings with joy because you[fn] knew that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, in order that after you[fn] have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet

• “a very, very little while,
  • and the one who is coming will come and will not delay.
  • 38 But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul is not well pleased with him.”[fn]
  
  

39 But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but among those who have faith to the preservation of our souls.