ISB ~ Hebrews 12 v12 - 13

Continuing the race metaphor in 12:1, the author pictures his discouraged readers as a runner slouched over with exhaustion and swerving back and forth along the track. Like a coach, he urges them to summon their energies and charge ahead toward the finish line.

• His words allude to the Greek versions of Is 35:3 (drooping hands, weak knees) and Prov 4:26 (straight paths). Isaiah encourages the fearful of Israel with news that God is coming to their rescue, and the proverb is a father’s instruction to his son to follow the straight and narrow way of righteousness.