Hebrews 4 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

So let's be careful — because even though the promise of entering God's rest is still open, none of you should end up falling short of it.

Because we've heard the good news just like they did. But the message they heard didn't do them any good because they didn't combine it with trust when they heard it.

Now, we who have trusted do enter that rest — just as God said, "In my anger I swore an oath: 'They will never enter my rest.'" And yet God's rest has been ready since the creation of the world.

Because somewhere he's spoken about the seventh day like this: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his work."

And then again in the same passage: "They will never enter my rest."

So the opportunity to enter that rest is still open, because the ones who first heard the good news didn't enter it — they refused to trust.

So God sets another day — "today" — speaking through David so much later, just as it was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."

Because if Joshua had given them that rest, God wouldn't have spoken later about another day.

So there is still a sabbath-like rest waiting for God's people.

Because anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their own work, just as God did from his.

So let's make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one falls by following the same pattern of refusal to trust.

Because God's word is alive and active — sharper than any double-edged sword, cutting through to the point where soul and spirit meet, where joints and marrow connect. It exposes what the heart is really thinking and wanting.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account.

So since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens — Jesus, the Son of God — let's hold tightly to what we've declared.

Because we don't have a high priest who can't relate to our weaknesses. He was tested in every way that we are — and yet he never failed.

So let's approach God's throne of generous favor with confidence, so that we can receive mercy and find generous favor to help us right when we need it.