Hebrews 1–2

The Nature of the Son

1Long ago God spoke ^ato the fathers by the prophets ^bat different times and in different ways. ^c2In these last days, ^dHe has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things ^eand made the universe ^fgthrough Him. ³The Son is the radiance ^hof God’s glory and the exact expression ⁱof His nature, ^jsustaining all things by His powerful word. ^kAfter making purification for sins, ^lHe sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. ^mn4So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs. ^o

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, ^pqor again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son? ^rs6When He again ^tbrings His firstborn into the world, ^uHe says, And all God’s angels must worship Him. ^vw7And about the angels He says:

He makes His angels winds, ^x

and His servants ^ya fiery flame, ^za

⁸but to ^bthe Son:

Your throne, God,

is forever and ever,

and the scepter of Your kingdom

is a scepter of justice. ^c

⁹You have loved righteousness

and hated lawlessness;

this is why God, Your God,

has anointed You

with the oil of joy ^d

rather than Your companions. ^ef

¹⁰And:

In the beginning, Lord,

You established the earth,

and the heavens are the works of Your hands; ^g

¹¹they will perish, but You remain.

They will all wear out like clothing; ^h

¹²You will roll them up like a cloak, ⁱ

and they will be changed like a robe.

But You are the same,

and Your years will never end. ^jk

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

Sit at My right hand

until I make Your enemies Your footstool? ^lmn

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

Warning against Neglect

2We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. ^p2For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding ^qrand every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, ^s3how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? ^tIt was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. ^u4At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will. ^v

Jesus and Humanity

⁵For He has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about. ⁶But one has somewhere 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 ^w

⁸and subjected everything under his feet. ^x

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. ^y9But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace He might taste death ^zfor everyone—crowned with glory and honor ^abecause of His suffering in death. ^b

¹⁰For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source ^cof their salvation perfect through sufferings. ^d11For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. ^eThat is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers, ^f12saying:

I will proclaim Your name to My brothers;

I will sing hymns to You in the congregation. ^gh

¹³Again, I will trust in Him. ⁱAnd again, Here I am with the children God gave Me. ^jk

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 Devil ^l— ¹⁵and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. ^m16For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. ⁿ¹⁷Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service ^oto God, to make propitiation ^pfor the sins of the people. ^q18For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.