Hebrews 13:14-25

14Here on earth, we who are believers do not have a city that will always be our home. But we are waiting for God's city that will come.

15So we should always praise God, because of what Jesus has done for us. We should say clearly that we trust Jesus. That is like our sacrifice which we offer to God all the time.

16Remember to be kind to other people. Share with them the things that you have. God is happy with sacrifices like that.

17Respect your leaders and obey them. They watch over your lives on God's behalf. God will check to see if they have done their work well. So respect them, and then they will be happy as they serve God. Do not say bad things against them, because that will never help you.

18Pray to God for us. We are sure in our minds that we have done nothing wrong. We always want to do only what is right.

19The most important thing is this: Pray that I may come back to you soon.

20I pray that God will help you. He is the one who gives us peace in our minds. He caused our Lord Jesus Christ to become alive again after death. God forgives us because of the blood of Jesus' death on the cross. That is God's new agreement with his people that will be true for ever. Jesus is our great shepherd. He takes care of us like his sheep.

21I pray that God will give you every good thing that you need to serve him. Then you can do everything that he wants. I pray that God will help us to serve him in a way that will make him happy. He will do that because we belong to Jesus Christ. Jesus is very great, and we should praise him always and for ever! Amen. This is true.

22My Christian friends, please listen patiently to my message. This is only a short letter and I want to help you to be strong.

23I want to tell you about Timothy, who is like a brother to us. They have let him go out of prison, so that he is free now. If he arrives here soon, he will come with me when I travel to see you.

24Say ‘hello’ on my behalf to your leaders and to all God's people. The Christians who have come here from Italy say ‘hello’ to you too.

25I pray that God will be very kind to all of you.