8. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned.
9. But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.
10. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.
11. But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,
12. so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.
13. Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,
14. saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.”
15. And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise.
16. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.
17. In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,
18. so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.
19. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,
20. where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.