< Hebrews 2 >
1 For this reason we ought to pay the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, for fear we should drift away from them.
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.
2 For if the message delivered through angels proved to be true, and every transgression and act of disobedience met with just retribution,
For, if the word through messengers spoken became firm, and, every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense,
3 how shall we escape if we are indifferent to a salvation as great as that now offered to us? This, after having first of all been announced by the Lord Himself, had its truth made sure to us by those who heard Him,
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,
4 while God corroborated their testimony by signs and marvels and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed in accordance with His own will.
God, jointly witnessing also, both with signs and wonders and manifold mighty works, and with distributions of Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
5 It is not to angels that God has assigned the sovereignty of that coming world, of which we speak.
For, not unto messengers, hath he subjected the coming habitable earth of which we are speaking;
6 But, as we know, a writer has solemnly said, "How poor a creature is man, and yet Thou dost remember him, and a son of man, and yet Thou dost come to him!
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?
7 Thou hast made him only a little inferior to the angels; with glory and honour Thou hast crowned him, and hast set him to govern the works of Thy hands.
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];
8 Thou hast put everything in subjection under his feet." For this subjecting of the universe to man implies the leaving nothing not subject to him. But we do not as yet see the universe subject to him.
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; —
9 But Jesus--who was made a little inferior to the angels in order that through God's grace He might taste death for every human being--we already see wearing a crown of glory and honour because of His having suffered death.
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.
10 For it was fitting that He for whom, and through whom, all things exist, after He had brought many sons to glory, should perfect by suffering the Prince Leader who had saved them.
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.
11 For both He who sanctifies and those whom He is sanctifying have all one Father; and for this reason He is not ashamed to speak of them as His brothers;
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,
12 as when He says: "I will proclaim Thy name to My brothers: in the midst of the congregation I will hymn Thy praises;"
saying—I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of an assembly, will I sing praise unto thee;
13 and again, "As for Me, I will be one whose trust reposes in God;" and again, "Here am I, and here are the children God has given Me."
and again—I, will be confident upon him; and again—Lo! I, and the children which, unto me, God, hath given.
14 Since then the children referred to are all alike sharers in perishable human nature, He Himself also, in the same way, took on Him a share of it, in order that through death He might render powerless him who had authority over death, that is, the Devil,
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, —
15 and might set at liberty all those who through fear of death had been subject to lifelong slavery.
And might release these—as many as, by fear of death, were all their lifetime liable, to bondage.
16 For assuredly it is not to angels that He is continually reaching a helping hand, but it is to the descendants of Abraham.
For, not surely of messengers, is he laying hold, but, of Abraham’s seed, he is laying hold.
17 And for this purpose it was necessary that in all respects He should be made to resemble His brothers, so that He might become a compassionate and faithful High Priest in things relating to God, in order to atone for the sins of the people.
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.
18 For inasmuch as He has Himself felt the pain of temptation and trial, He is also able instantly to help those who are tempted and tried.
For, in that, he, suffered when tested, he is able, unto them who are being tested, to give succour.