Hebrews 2

1 For this reason there is the more need for us to give attention to the things which have come to our ears, for fear that by chance we might be slipping away.

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.

2 Because if the word which came through the angels was fixed, and in the past every evil act against God's orders was given its full punishment;

For if the message delivered through angels proved to be true, and every transgression and act of disobedience met with just retribution,

3 What will come on us, if we do not give our minds to such a great salvation? a salvation of which our fathers first had knowledge through the words of the Lord, and which was made certain to us by those to whom his words came;

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,

4 And God was a witness with them, by signs and wonders, and by more than natural powers, and by his distribution of the Holy Spirit at his pleasure.

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.

5 For he did not make the angels rulers over the world to come, of which I am writing.

It is not to angels that God has assigned the sovereignty of that coming world, of which we speak.

6 But a certain writer has given his witness, saying, What is man, that you keep him in mind? what is the son of man, that you take him into account?

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!

7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you gave him a crown of glory and honour, and made him ruler over all the works of your hands:

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.

8 You put all things under his feet. For in making man the ruler over all things, God did not put anything outside his authority; though we do not see everything under him now.

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.

9 But we see him who was made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, crowned with glory and honour, because he let himself be put to death so that by the grace of God he might undergo death for all men.

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.

10 Because it was right for him, for whom and through whom all things have being, in guiding his sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation complete through pain.

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.

11 For he who makes holy and those who are made holy are all of one family; and for this reason it is no shame for him to give them the name of brothers,

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;

12 Saying, I will give the knowledge of your name to my brothers, I will make a song of praise to you before the church.

as when He says: "I will proclaim Thy name to My brothers: in the midst of the congregation I will hymn Thy praises;"

13 And again he says, I will put my faith in him. And again, See, I am here, and the children which God has given to me.

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."

14 And because the children are flesh and blood, he took a body himself and became like them; so that by his death he might put an end to him who had the power of death, that is to say, the Evil One;

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,

15 And let those who all their lives were in chains because of their fear of death, go free.

and might set at liberty all those who through fear of death had been subject to lifelong slavery.

16 For, truly, he does not take on the life of angels, but that of the seed of Abraham.

For assuredly it is not to angels that He is continually reaching a helping hand, but it is to the descendants of Abraham.

17 Because of this it was necessary for him to be made like his brothers in every way, so that he might be a high priest full of mercy and keeping faith in everything to do with God, making offerings for the sins of the people.

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.

18 For having been put to the test himself, he is able to give help to others when they are tested.

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.