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Connecting Statement:
Because of this great number of Old Testament believers, the author talks of the life of faith that believers should live with Jesus as their example.
General Information:
The words "we" and "us" refer to the author and his readers. The word "you" is plural and here refers to the readers. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-inclusive and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you)
we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses
The writer speaks about the Old Testament believers as if they were a cloud that surrounded the present-day believers. This can be stated in active form. AT: "such a large cloud of witnesses surrounds us" or "there are so many examples of faithful people about whom we learn in the scriptures" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive)
witnesses
Here "witnesses" refers to the Old Testament believers in chapter 11 who lived before the race of faith that believers now run.
let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin
Here "weight" and "easily entangling sin" are spoken of as if a person could take them off himself and put them down. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
every weight
Attitudes or habits that keep believers from trusting and obeying God are spoken of as if they were loads that would make it difficult for a person to carry while running. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
easily entangling sin
Sin is spoken of as if it were a net or something else that can trip people up and make them fall. AT: "sin that makes obeying God difficult" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
Let us patiently run the race that is placed before us
Following Jesus is spoken of as if it were running a race. AT: "Let us continue obeying what God has commanded us, just like a runner keeps going until the race is over" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
the founder and perfecter of the faith
Jesus gives us faith and makes our faith perfect by causing us to reach our goal. AT: "creator and finisher of our faith" or "the one who enables us to have faith from beginning to end"
For the joy that was placed before him
The joy that Jesus would experience is spoken of as if God the Father had placed it before him as a goal to reach. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
despised its shame
This means he was not concerned about the shame of dying on a cross.
sat down at the right hand
Here "right hand" refers to a place of honor. See how you translated this in Hebrews 1:3. AT: "he sat down in the place of honor" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
of the throne of God
Here "throne" refers to God's rule as king. AT: "of God who is king" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
weary in your hearts
Here "hearts" represents a person's thoughts and emotions. AT: "discouraged" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)