12 So then with us having a cloud of witnesses around us, we should discard everything that’s a burden, as well as the sin that is always so near to us. We should run the race that’s ahead of us with endurance, 2 with our eyes on Yeshua, the originator and perfecter of our faith, who endured execution on a stake and disregarded the shame of that event for the satisfaction that he’d gain. Now he’s seated there in the seat of honour beside God’s throne.

3 You all need to think about Yeshua and how he persevered when sinners quarrelled with him (although they only hurt themselves) so that you can be strong on the inside and persevere. 4 So far, you all haven’t had to resist to the point of sweating or shedding blood in the struggle against sin. 5 What’s more, you’ve failed to remember what Solomon encouraged his children to do, which also applies to all of you:[ref]

“My child, learn carefully when the Lord trains you.

Indeed, you shouldn’t become despondent when he corrects you.

6 Because it’s the people that the master loves that he disciplines,

Indeed he punishes every child that he calls his own.”

7 It’s for your own discipline that you all have to endure. God is treating you as his children, and what sort of father wouldn’t discipline them? 8 If you all weren’t disciplined (which all children experience), then you wouldn’t be true children, but rather illegitimate ones. 9 What’s more, our human parents trained us when we were children and we changed our behaviour, so, we should accept it even more when our spiritual father, God, trains us so that we can have life. 10 Indeed, they were disciplining us for a few days according to what seemed best to them, but God our father does it for our benefit so that we can also distance ourselves from sin. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful, however later it produces peace in those who’ve been trained in this way so they do what is good and right.

12 So then, straighten your drooping arms and paralysed legs, and be strong.[ref] 13 Make your paths straight[ref] so that those who’re lame won’t be discouraged, but rather come and be healed.