Bob Johnson's Reader report

Hebrews here and there.

46-ROM/03.usfm

@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@
 \v 2 It is great in every way. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with revelation from God.
 
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-\v 3 For what if some Jews were without faith? Will their unbelief make God's faithfulness invalid?
+\v 3 For what if some Jews were without faith? Will their unbelief abolish God's faithfulness?
 \v 4 May it never be. Instead, let God be found to be true, even though every man is a liar. As it has been written,
 \q "That you might be shown to be righteous in your words,
-\q and might prevail when you come into judgment."
+\q and that you might prevail when you come into judgment."
 \m
 
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59-HEB/02.usfm

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 \v 1 Therefore we must give far more attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
 
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-\v 2 For if the message that was spoken through the angels is valid, and every trespass and disobedience receives just punishment,
+\v 2 For if the message that was spoken through the angels proved to be so reliable, and every trespass and disobedience receives just punishment,
 \v 3 how then can we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This is salvation that was first announced by the Lord and confirmed to us by those who heard it.
 \v 4 At the same time God testified to it by signs, wonders, and various powerful deeds, and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his will.
 
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 \p For it was to him that God has subjected all things. He did not leave anything not subjected to him. But now we do not yet see everything subjected to him.
 
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-\v 9 But we see the one who was made lower than the angels for a short amount of time: Jesus, who, because of his suffering and death, has been crowned with glory and honor. So now by God's grace, he has tasted death for every man.
+\v 9 But we see him who was made lower than the angels for a little while, Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of his suffering and death, so that by God's grace he might taste death for everyone.
 \v 10 For it was proper for God, because everything exists for him and through him, to bring many sons to glory. It was proper for him to make the leader of their salvation complete through his sufferings.
 
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59-HEB/05.usfm

@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 
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-\v 7 During the days of his flesh, Christ offered up both prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, the one able to save him from death. He was heard because of his piety.
-\v 8 Even though he was a son, he learned obedience from the things that he suffered.
+\v 7 During the days of his flesh, Christ offered up both prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, the one able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his godly life.
+\v 8 Even though he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.
 
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 \v 9 He was made perfect and became, for everyone who obeys him, the cause of eternal salvation.

59-HEB/07.usfm

@@ -28,30 +28,30 @@
 
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 \v 15 What we say is clearer yet if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek.
-\v 16 It was not on the basis of the law of fleshly descent that he became a priest, but instead on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.
+\v 16 It was not based on the law of fleshly descent that he became a priest, but instead was based on the power of an everlasting life.
 \v 17 For scripture witnesses about him:
 \q "You are a priest forever
 \q after the manner of Melchizedek."
 
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-\v 18 For there was a cancellation of the former commandment because it was weak and useless.
-\v 19 For the law made nothing perfect. However, there is the introduction of a better confidence for the future through which we approach God.
+\v 18 For the former regulation is set aside because it is weak and useless,
+\v 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a certain hope for the future is introduced, through which we come near to God.
 
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-\v 20 This did not happen without the taking of an oath. On one hand, those others become priests without any oath.
-\v 21 But on the other hand, this one, Jesus, became a priest with an oath sworn by the one who said to him,
-\q "The Lord swore and will not change his mind:
+\v 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath,
+\v 21 but he became a priest when God said to him,
+\q "The Lord has sworn and he will not change his mind:
 \q 'You are a priest forever.'"
 
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 \p
 \v 22 By this also Jesus has given the guarantee of a better covenant.
-\v 23 On one hand, many become priests because by death they are kept from continuing on.
-\v 24 On the other hand, because Jesus remains forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
+\v 23 The former priests were many in number, since death prevented them from continuing in office. 
+\v 24 But because Jesus continues to live forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
 
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-\v 25 Therefore he is also able to completely save those who approach God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
+\v 25 Therefore he is also able to save completely those who approach God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
 \v 26 For such a high priest is suitable for us. He is sinless, blameless, pure, separated from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.
 
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59-HEB/08.usfm

@@ -44,4 +44,4 @@
 
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-\v 13 By saying "new," he has made the first covenant old, and what has become outdated and old is near to disappearing.
+\v 13 By calling this covenant "new," he declared the first covenant to be old, and what has become old and obsolete will soon disappear.

59-HEB/09.usfm

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 \v 7 But only the high priest entered the second room once each year, and not without blood that he offered for himself and for the people's unintentional sins.
 
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-\v 8 The Holy Spirit showed that the way into the most holy place was not yet revealed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.
+\v 8 The Holy Spirit showed that the way into the most holy place had not yet appeared as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.
 \v 9 This was an illustration for the present time. Both the gifts and sacrifices that are now being offered are not able to perfect the worshiper's conscience.
 \v 10 They are only concerned with food and drink and various sorts of ceremonial washings. These were all regulations for the flesh that were provided until the new order would be created.
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 \v 15 For this reason, he is the mediator of a new covenant. This is so that, since a death has taken place to free those under the first covenant from their sins, those who are called will receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.
 
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-\v 16 For where there is a will, the death of the person who made it must be proved.
+\v 16 For where there is a will, the death of the person who made it must be proven.
 \v 17 For a will is only in force when there has been a death, because it has no force while the one who made it is still alive.
 
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59-HEB/10.usfm

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 \c 10
 \p
 \v 1 For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the real forms of those things themselves. Those who approach God can never be made perfect by the same sacrifices that the priests continually bring year after year.
-\v 2 Or else would not those sacrifices have ceased to be offered? In that case, if they had been cleansed once and for all, the worshipers would have no longer been aware of sin.
+\v 2 Otherwise, would the sacrifices not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed one time and would no longer have any consciousness of sin. 
 \v 3 But with those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.
 \v 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
 

59-HEB/11.usfm

@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@
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 \v 8 It was by faith that Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
 \v 9 It was by faith that he lived in the land of promise as a foreigner. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.
-\v 10 For he was looking forward to the city which has foundations, the city of which the architect and builder would be God.
+\v 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
 
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 \v 11 It was by faith, even though Sarah herself was barren, that Abraham received ability to father a child. This happened even though he was too old, since he considered as faithful the one who had given the promise.
 \f + \ft There is some question about whether it was Abraham's faith or Sarah's faith that was in view. \fqa By faith Sarah, though she was old, received the power to have a child, even though she was too old to bear a child, since she considered the one who gave the promise to be faithful. \f*
-\v 12 Therefore, from this one man, who was almost dead, were born those who were like the stars in the sky for their multitude and like the grains of sand along the seashore, which are uncountable.
+\v 12 Therefore, from this one man—and he was almost dead—were born descendants as many as the stars in the sky and as countless as sand by the seashore.
 
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 \v 13 It was in faith that all these died without receiving the promises. Instead, after seeing and greeting them from far off, they admitted that they were foreigners and exiles on earth.
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ the one who is invisible.
 \v 34 extinguished the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were healed of illnesses, became mighty in battle, and defeated foreign armies.
 
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-\v 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting release so that they would obtain a better resurrection.
+\v 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might experience a better resurrection.
 \v 36 Others had testing in mocking and whippings, and even chains and imprisonment.
 \v 37 They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were killed with the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins. They were destitute, oppressed, mistreated.
 \f + \ft Some older versions read, \fqa They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were put to the test. They were killed with the sword. \fqa* \f*

59-HEB/12.usfm

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 \c 12
 \p
 \v 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin. Let us patiently run the race that is placed before us.
-\v 2 Let us pay attention to Jesus, the beginner and perfecter of the faith. For the joy that was placed before him, he endured the cross, despised its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
+\v 2 Let us pay attention to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of the faith. For the joy that was placed before him, he endured the cross, despised its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 \v 3 So think about him, the one who has endured such opposition from sinners against himself, so that you do not become weary in your hearts and give up.
 
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@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ point of blood;
 \v 8 But if you are without discipline, which all people share in, then you are illegitimate and not his sons.
 
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-\v 9 Furthermore, we had fathers in the flesh as disciplinarians, and we respected them. Should we not even more so obey the Father of spirits and live?
-\v 10 For on the one hand, our fathers disciplined us for a few days as it seemed right to them. But on the other hand, God does so for our good so that we can share in his holiness.
-\v 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but rather painful. However it later produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.
+\v 9 Furthermore, we had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live?
+\v 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best. But God disciplines us for our good, so that we can share in his holiness.
+\v 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. But later it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.
 
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 \v 12 So strengthen your hands that hang down and your weak knees.

59-HEB/13.usfm

@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@
 
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-\v 20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead ones the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, by the blood of an everlasting covenant,
-\v 21 perfect you with every good thing to do his will. May he work in us what is well pleasing before him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.
+\v 20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead ones the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
+\v 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.
 
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