| 5 | And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? -- "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. |
| 6 | For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." |
| 7 | It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? |
| 8 | If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. |
| 9 | Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? |
| 10 | For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. |
| 11 | For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. |
| 12 | Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, |
| 13 | and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. |
| 14 | Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. |
| 15 | See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled; |