Hebrews 1–2

THE NATURE OF THE SON

1Long ago God spoke^a to our ancestors by the prophets^b at different times and in different ways.^{c 2}In these last days,^d he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things^e and made the universe^Af through him. ³The Son is the radiance^B of God’s glory and the exact expression^C of his nature,^g sustaining all things by his powerful word.^h After making purification for sins,^D he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.^{Ei 4}So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.^j

THE SON SUPERIOR TO ANGELS

⁵For to which of the angels did he ever say,

You are my Son;

today I have become your Father,^FG

or again,

I will be his Father,

and he will be my Son?^Hk

⁶Again, when he^I brings his firstborn into the world,^l he says,

And let all God’s angels worship him.^Jm

⁷And about the angels he says:

He makes his angels winds,^K

and his servants^L a fiery flame,^Mn

⁸but to^N the Son:

Your throne, God,

is forever and ever,

and the scepter of your kingdom

is a scepter of justice.^o

⁹You have loved righteousness

and hated lawlessness;

this is why God, your God,

has anointed you

with the oil of joy^p

beyond your companions.^OP

¹⁰And:

In the beginning, Lord,

you established the earth,

and the heavens are the works of your hands;^q

¹¹they will perish, but you remain.

They will all wear out like clothing;^r

¹²you will roll them up like a cloak,^Q

and they will be changed like clothing.

But you are the same,

and your years will never end.^Rs

¹³Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies your footstool?^St

¹⁴Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?^u

WARNING AGAINST NEGLECT

2For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.^{v 2}For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding^Aw and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,^{x 3}how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?^y This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.^{z 4}At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.^aa

JESUS AND HUMANITY

⁵For he has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about. ⁶But someone somewhere has testified:

What is man that you remember him,

or the son of man that you care for him?

⁷You made him lower than the angels

for a short time;

you crowned him with glory and honor^B

⁸and subjected everything under his feet.^C

For in subjecting everything to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.^{a 9}But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death^b for everyone—crowned with glory and honor^c because he suffered death.^d

¹⁰For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer^D of their salvation perfect through sufferings.^{e 11}For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.^E That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,^{f 12}saying:

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;

I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.^Fg

¹³Again, I will trust in him.^G And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.^Hh

¹⁴Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devilⁱ—¹⁵and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.^{j 16}For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.^{k 17}Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters^I pertaining to God, to make atonement^Jl for the sins of the people.^{m 18}For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.