Hebrews 2

1 For this reason, it is necessary for us to observe more thoroughly the things that we have heard, lest we let them slip away.

Therefore we must give still more heed to what we were taught, so we do not drift away.

2 For if a word that was spoken through the Angels has been made firm, and every transgression and disobedience has received the recompense of a just retribution,

For, if the message which was delivered by angels had its authority confirmed, so that every offense against it, or neglect of it, met with a fitting requital,

3 in what way might we escape, if we neglect such a great salvation? For though initially it had begun to be described by the Lord, it was confirmed among us by those who heard him,

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 with God testifying to it by signs and wonders, and by various miracles, and by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, in accord with his own will.

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 For God did not subject the future world, about which we are speaking, to the Angels.

God has not given to angels the control of that future world of which we are speaking!

6 But someone, in a certain place, has testified, saying: “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the Son of man, that you visit him?

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 You have reduced him to a little less than the Angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor, and you have set him over the works of your hands.

You have made them, for a while, lower than angels; with glory and honor you have crowned them; you have set them over all that your hands have made;

8 You have subjected all things under his feet.” For in as much as he has subjected all things to him, he has left nothing not subject to him. But in the present time, we do not yet perceive that all things have been made subject to him.

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 Yet we understand that Jesus, who was reduced to a little less than the Angels, was crowned with glory and honor because of his Passion and death, in order that, by the grace of God, he might taste death for all.

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 honor; so that his tasting the bitterness of death should, in God’s loving kindness, be on behalf of all humanity.

10 For it was fitting for him, because of whom and through whom all things exist, who had led many children into glory, to complete the authorship of their salvation through his Passion.

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 For he who sanctifies, and those who are sanctified, are all from One. For this reason, he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying:

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 “I will announce your name to my brothers. In the midst of the Church, I will praise you.”

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 And again: “I will be faithful in him.” And again: “Behold, I and my children, whom God has given to me.”

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 Therefore, because children have a common flesh and blood, he himself also, in like manner, has shared in the same, so that through death, he might destroy him who held the dominion of death, that is, the devil,

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 and so that he might free those who, through the fear of death, had been condemned to servitude throughout their entire life.

and so might deliver all those who, from fear of death, had all their lives been living in slavery.

16 For at no time did he take hold of the Angels, but instead he took hold of the offspring of Abraham.

It was not, surely, to the help of the angels that Jesus came, but to the help of the descendants of Abraham.

17 Therefore, it is fitting for him to be made similar to his brothers in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful High Priest before God, in order that he might bring forgiveness to the offenses of the people.

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 For in as much as he himself has suffered and has been tempted, he also is able to assist those who are tempted.

The fact that he himself suffered under temptation enables him to help those who are tempted.