Hebrews 2

1 Therefore we ought to give the more earn heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Therefore we must give still more heed to what we were taught, so we do not drift away.

2 For if the word (logos) spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

For, if the message which was delivered by angels had its authority confirmed, so that every offense against it, or neglect of it, met with a fitting requital,

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

how can we, of all people, expect to escape, if we disregard so great a salvation? It was the Master who at the outset spoke of this salvation, and its authority was confirmed for us by those who heard him,

4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, (pneuma) according to his own will?

while God himself added his testimony to it by signs, and marvels, and many different miracles, as well as by imparting the Holy Spirit as he saw fit.

5 For unto the angels has he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

God has not given to angels the control of that future world of which we are speaking!

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that you are mindful of him? or the son of man that you visit him?

No; a writer has declared somewhere – ‘What are mere mortals that you should remember them? Or human beings that you should care for them?

7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honour, and did set him over the works of your hands:

You have made them, for a while, lower than angels; with glory and honor you have crowned them; you have set them over all that your hands have made;

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

you have placed all things beneath their feet.’ This ‘placing of everything’ under humanity means that there was nothing which was not placed under them. As yet, however, we do not see everything placed under humanity.

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

What our eyes do see is Jesus, who was made for a while lower than angels, now, because of his sufferings and death, crowned with glory and honor; so that his tasting the bitterness of death should, in God’s loving kindness, be on behalf of all humanity.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

It was, indeed, fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, should, when leading many children to glory, make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

11 For both he that santifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

For he who purifies, and those whom he purifies, all spring from One; and therefore he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

12 Saying, I will declare your name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto you.

He says – ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.’

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God has given me.

And again – ‘As for me, I will put my trust in God.’ And yet again – ‘See, here am I and the children whom God gave me.’

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Therefore, since human nature is the common heritage of the children, Jesus also shared it, in order that by death he might render powerless him whose power lies in death – that is, the devil –

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

and so might deliver all those who, from fear of death, had all their lives been living in slavery.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

It was not, surely, to the help of the angels that Jesus came, but to the help of the descendants of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it was essential for him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

And consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like his brothers and sisters, in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful high priest in humanity’s relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his people.

18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help them that are tempted.

The fact that he himself suffered under temptation enables him to help those who are tempted.