Hebrews, 2

1. We ought, then, to turn our minds more attentively than before to what we have been taught, so that we do not drift away.

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

2. If a message that was spoken through angels proved to be so reliable that every infringement and disobedience brought its own proper punishment,

2. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

3. then we shall certainly not go unpunished if we neglect such a great salvation. It was first announced by the Lord himself, and is guaranteed to us by those who heard him;

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];

4. God himself confirmed their witness with signs and marvels and miracles of all kinds, and by distributing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the various ways he wills.

4. God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

5. It was not under angels that he put the world to come, about which we are speaking.

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

6. Someone witnesses to this somewhere with the words: What are human beings that you spare a thought for them, a child of Adam that you care for him?

6. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

7. For a short while you have made him less than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honour,

7. Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8. put all things under his feet. For in putting all things under him he made no exceptions. At present, it is true, we are not able to see that all things are under him,

8. Thou hast 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.

9. but we do see Jesus, who was for a short while made less than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he submitted to death; so that by God's grace his experience of death should benefit all 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.

10. It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should, in bringing many sons to glory, make perfect through suffering the leader of their salvation.

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.

11. For consecrator and consecrated are all of the same stock; that is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers

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

12. in the text: I shall proclaim your name to my brothers, praise you in full assembly; or in the text:

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

13. I shall put my hope in him; followed by Look, I and the children whom God has given me.

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

14. Since all the children share the same human nature, he too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could set aside him who held the power of death, namely the devil,

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;

15. and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

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

16. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself the line of Abraham.

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

17. It was essential that he should in this way be made completely like his brothers so that he could become a compassionate and trustworthy high priest for their relationship to God, able to expiate the sins of the people.

17. Wherefore in all things it behoved 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.

18. For the suffering he himself passed through while being put to the test enables him to help others when they are being put to the test.

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