Hebrews 2

1 Because of this it is more abundantly necessary to take heed to the things heard, lest we may drift away,

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

2 for if the word being spoken through messengers became steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just repayment,

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 will we escape, having neglected such great salvation? Which having received [that] spoken through the LORD [from] the beginning, was confirmed to us by those having heard,

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 joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His 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 He did not subject the coming world to messengers, concerning which we speak,

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

6 and one in a certain place testified fully, saying, “What is man, that You are mindful of him, Or a son of man, that You look after 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 less than messengers, You crowned him with glory and honor, And 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 put all things in subjection under his feet,” for in the subjecting to Him all things, He left nothing to Him unsubjected, but now we do not yet see all things subjected to 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 and we see Him who was made [a] little less than messengers—Jesus—because of the suffering of death, having been crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste of death for everyone.

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 was fitting to Him, because of whom [are] all things, and through whom [are] all things, bringing many sons to glory, to make the author 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 who is sanctifying and those sanctified [are] all of one, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers,

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 to My brothers, In the midst of an assembly I will sing praise to You”; and again, “I will be trusting on Him”;

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, “Behold, I and the children that God gave to 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 Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself also took part of the same in like manner, that through death He might destroy him having 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 might deliver those, whoever, with fear of death, throughout all their life, were subjects of bondage,

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

16 for doubtless, He does not lay hold of messengers, but He lays hold of [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 for this reason it seemed necessary to Him to be made like the brothers in all things, that He might become a kind and faithful Chief Priest in the things related to God, to make propitiation 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 suffered, Himself being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted.

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