Hebrews 2

1 For this cause, it behoveth us, with unwonted firmness, to be holding fast unto the things that have been heard, lest, at any time, we drift away.

Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

2 For, if the word through messengers spoken became firm, and, every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense,

For if the message spoken through angels was valid and every transgression and disobedience received a just retribution,

3 how shall, we, escape, if, so great a salvation as this, we have neglected, —which, indeed, having received, a beginning, of being spoken through the Lord, by them who heard, unto us was confirmed,

how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

4 God, jointly witnessing also, both with signs and wonders and manifold mighty works, and with distributions of Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

God also bore further witness with signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5 For, not unto messengers, hath he subjected the coming habitable earth of which we are speaking;

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.

6 But one somewhere hath borne witness, saying—What is man, that thou shouldst make mention of him? Or the son of man, that thou shouldst put him in charge?

But in one place someone has testified: “What is man that yoʋ are mindful of him, or the son of man that yoʋ care for him?

7 Thou hast made him less, some little, than messengers, With glory and honour, hast thou crowned him, —[And hast set him over the works of thy hands];

Yoʋ made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor;

8 All things, hast thou subjected beneath his feet. For, in subjecting, [to him] the all things, nothing, left he, to him unsubjected; But now, not yet, do we see, to him, the all things subjected; —

yoʋ put everything in subjection under his feet.” In subjecting everything to him, God left nothing that is not subjected to him. But now we do not yet see everything subjected to him.

9 But, Jesus, made some little less than messengers, we do behold: by reason of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, to the end that, by favour of God, in behalf of every one, he might taste of death.

But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was becoming in him—For the sake of whom are the all things, and by means of whom are the all things, —when, many sons, unto glory, he would lead, The Princely Leader of their salvation, through sufferings, to make perfect.

For in bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

11 For, both he that maketh holy, and they who are being made holy, are, all, of One; For which cause, he is not ashamed to be calling them, brethren,

For he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers,

12 saying—I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of an assembly, will I sing praise unto thee;

saying, “I will declare yoʋr name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing yoʋr praise.”

13 and again—I, will be confident upon him; and again—Lo! I, and the children which, unto me, God, hath given.

And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here I am, with the children God has given me.”

14 Seeing therefore the children have received a fellowship of blood and flesh, he also, in like manner, took partnership in the same, —in order that, through death, —he might paralyse him that held the dominion of death, that is, the Adversary, —

Therefore, since the children all have flesh and blood, Jesus himself took on flesh and blood as well, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 And might release these—as many as, by fear of death, were all their lifetime liable, to bondage.

and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.

16 For, not surely of messengers, is he laying hold, but, of Abraham’s seed, he is laying hold.

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but the descendants of Abraham.

17 Whence he was obliged, in every way, unto the brethren, to be made like, that he might become a merciful and faithful high-priest, in the things pertaining unto God, —for the making of propitiation for the sins of the people.

Therefore he had to become like his brothers in every way, so that he could be a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.

18 For, in that, he, suffered when tested, he is able, unto them who are being tested, to give succour.

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.