John Calvin on Hebrews 12:11

11. Now no chastening, etc. This he adds, lest we should measure God’s chastisements by our present feelings; for he shows that we are like children who dread the rod and shun it as much as they can, for owing to their age they cannot yet judge how useful it may be to them. The object, then, of this admonition is, that chastisements cannot be estimated aright if judged according to what the flesh feels under them, and that therefore we must fix our eyes on the end: we shall thus receive the peaceable fruit of righteousness. And by the fruit of righteousness he means the fear of the Lord and a godly and holy life, of which the cross is the teacher. He calls it peaceable, because in adversities we are alarmed and disquieted, being tempted by impatience, which is always noisy and restless; but being chastened, we acknowledge with a resigned mind how profitable did that become to us which before seemed bitter and grievous. See Appendix S 2.

Hebrews Chapter 12:12-17

12. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

12. Quare manus remissas et genua soluta surrigite;

13. And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

13. Et rectasfacite vias pedibus vestris, ne claudicatio aberret, sed magis sanetur.

14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

14. Pacem sectamini cum omnibus et sanctimonium, sine qua nemo videbit Dominum:

15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

15. Curam agentes ne quis deficiat a grtia Dei, no quae radix amaritudinis sursum pullulans obturbet et per eam inquinentur multi;

16. Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

16. Ne quis scortator vel profanus, ut Esau, quo pro uno edulio vendidit primogenituram suam.

17. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

17. Nostis enim quod quum postea vellet haeriditariam obtinere benedictionem, reprobatus sit, poenitentae enim locum non invenit, etiamsi cum lachrymis quaesiisset eam.