Hebræos 2
1 Propterea abundantius oportet observare nos ea, quæ audivimus ne forte pereffluamus.
Therefore we must give still more heed to what we were taught, so we do not drift away.
2 Si enim qui per Angelos dictus est sermo, factus est firmus, et omnis prævaricatio, et inobedientia accepit iustam mercedis retributionem:
For, if the message which was delivered by angels had its authority confirmed, so that every offence against it, or neglect of it, met with a fitting requital,
3 quomodo nos effugiemus si tantam neglexerimus salutem? Quæ cum initium accepisset enarrari per Dominum ab eis, qui audierunt, in nos confirmata est,
how can we, of all people, expect to escape, if we disregard so great a salvation? It was the Master who at the outset spoke of this salvation, and its authority was confirmed for us by those who heard him,
4 contestante Deo signis et portentis, et variis virtutibus, et Spiritus Sancti distributionibus secundum suam voluntatem.
while God himself added his testimony to it by signs, and marvels, and many different miracles, as well as by imparting the Holy Spirit as he saw fit.
5 Non enim Angelis subiecit Deus orbem terræ futurum, de quo loquimur.
God has not given to angels the control of that future world of which we are speaking!
6 Testatus est autem in quodam loco quis, dicens: Quid est homo quod memor es eius, aut Filius hominis quoniam visitas eum?
No; a writer has declared somewhere – “What are mere mortals that you should remember them? Or human beings that you should care for them?
7 Minuisti eum paulo minus ab Angelis: gloria et honore coronasti eum: et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum.
You have made them, for a while, lower than angels; with glory and honour you have crowned them; you have set them over all that your hands have made;
8 Omnia subiecisti sub pedibus eius: In eo enim quod omnia ei subiecit, nihil dimisit non subiectum ei. Nunc autem necdum videmus omnia subiecta ei.
you have placed all things beneath their feet.” This “placing of everything” under humanity means that there was nothing which was not placed under them. As yet, however, we do not see everything placed under humanity.
9 Eum autem, qui modico quam Angeli minoratus est, videmus Iesum propter passionem mortis, gloria et honore coronatum: ut gratia Dei, pro omnibus gustaret mortem.
What our eyes do see is Jesus, who was made for a while lower than angels, now, because of his sufferings and death, crowned with glory and honour; so that his tasting the bitterness of death should, in God’s loving kindness, be on behalf of all humanity.
10 Decebat enim eum, propter quem omnia, et per quem omnia, qui multos filios in gloriam adduxerat, auctorem salutis eorum per passionem consummare.
It was, indeed, fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, should, when leading many children to glory, make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
11 Qui enim sanctificat, et qui sanctificantur, ex uno omnes. Propter quam causam non confunditur fratres eos vocare, dicens:
For he who purifies, and those whom he purifies, all spring from One; and therefore he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
12 Nunciabo nomen tuum fratribus meis: in medio Ecclesiæ laudabo te.
He says – “I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 Et iterum: Ego ero fidens in eum. Et iterum: Ecce ego, et pueri mei, quos dedit mihi Deus.
And again – “As for me, I will put my trust in God.” And yet again – “See, here am I and the children whom God gave me.”
14 Quia ergo pueri communicaverunt carni, et sanguini, et ipse similiter participavit eisdem: ut per mortem destrueret eum, qui habebat mortis imperium, id est, diabolum:
Therefore, since human nature is the common heritage of the children, Jesus also shared it, in order that by death he might render powerless him whose power lies in death – that is, the devil –
15 et liberaret eos, qui timore mortis per totam vitam obnoxii erant servituti.
and so might deliver all those who, from fear of death, had all their lives been living in slavery.
16 Nusquam enim Angelos apprehendit, sed semen Abrahæ apprehendit.
It was not, surely, to the help of the angels that Jesus came, but to the help of the descendants of Abraham.
17 Unde debuit per omnia fratribus similari, ut misericors fieret, et fidelis Pontifex ad Deum, ut repropitiaret delicta populi.
And consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like his brothers and sisters, in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful high priest in humanity’s relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his people.
18 In eo enim, in quo passus est ipse et tentatus, potens est et eis, qui tentantur, auxiliari.
The fact that he himself suffered under temptation enables him to help those who are tempted.
