Hebrews 2:1-4:11

New American Standard Bible

Pay Attention

2 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to ^[a]what we have heard, so that ^(A)we do not drift away from it. ² For if the word ^(B)spoken through ^(C)angels proved ^[b]unalterable, and ^(D)every violation and act of disobedience received a just ^[c](E)punishment, ^3 (F)how will we escape if we neglect so great a ^(G)salvation? ^[d]After it was at first ^(H)spoken through the Lord, it was ^(I)confirmed to us by those who heard, ⁴ God also testifying with them, both by ^(J)signs and wonders, and by ^(K)various ^[e]miracles and by ^[f](L)gifts of the Holy Spirit ^(M)according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

⁵ For He did not subject to angels ^[g](N)the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But someone has testified ^(O)somewhere, saying,

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now ^(S)we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Jesus Briefly Humbled

⁹ But we do see Him who was ^(T)made ^[j]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, ^(U)because of His suffering death ^(V)crowned with glory and honor, so that ^(W)by the grace of God He might ^(X)taste death ^(Y)for everyone.

¹⁰ For ^(Z)it was fitting for Him, ^(AA)for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to ^(AB)perfect the ^[k](AC)originator of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹ For both He who ^(AD)sanctifies and those who ^(AE)are ^[l]sanctified are all ^(AF)from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them ^(AG)brothers and sisters, ¹² saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share in ^[m](AK)flesh and blood, ^(AL)He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that ^(AM)through death He might destroy ^(AN)the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and free those who through ^(AO)fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. ¹⁶ For clearly He does not ^[n]give help to angels, but He gives help to the ^[o]descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He ^[p]had ^(AP)to be made like His brothers so that He might ^(AQ)become a merciful and faithful ^(AR)high priest in ^(AS)things pertaining to God, to ^(AT)make ^[q]propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since He Himself was ^[r](AU)tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are ^[s]tempted.

Jesus Our High Priest

3 Therefore, ^(AV)holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a ^(AW)heavenly calling, consider ^(AX)the Apostle and ^(AY)High Priest of our ^(AZ)confession: Jesus; ^2 [t]He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as ^(BA)Moses also was in all His house. ^3 (BB)For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. ⁵ Now ^(BC)Moses was faithful in all ^[u]God’s house as ^(BD)a servant, ^(BE)for a testimony of those things ^(BF)which were to be spoken later; ⁶ but Christ was faithful as ^(BG)a Son over His house—^(BH)whose house we are, ^(BI)if we hold firmly to our ^(BJ)confidence and the boast of our ^[v](BK)hope.

⁷ Therefore, just as ^(BL)the Holy Spirit says,

The Danger of Unbelief

^12 (BS)Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart ^[x]that falls away from ^(BT)the living God. ¹³ But ^(BU)encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the ^(BV)deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ ^(BW)if we keep the beginning of our ^[y](BX)commitment firm until the end, ¹⁵ while it is said,

¹⁶ For who ^(BZ)provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, ^(CA)did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? ¹⁷ And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, ^(CB)whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did He swear ^(CC)that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were ^(CD)disobedient? ¹⁹ And so we see that they were not able to enter because of ^(CE)unbelief.

The Believer’s Rest

4 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have ^(CF)come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but ^(CG)the word ^[aa]they heard did not benefit them, because ^[ab]they were not united with those who listened with faith. ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

although His works were finished ^(CI)from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has said ^(CJ)somewhere concerning the seventh day: “^(CK)And God ^(CL)rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this passage, “^(CM)They certainly shall not enter My rest.” ⁶ Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of ^(CN)disobedience, ⁷ He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying ^[ac]through David after so long a time just ^(CO)as has been said before,

⁸ For ^(CQ)if ^[ad]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. ⁹ Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also ^(CR)rested from his works, as ^(CS)God did from His. ¹¹ Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same ^(CT)example of ^(CU)disobedience.