Hebrews 2
Contemporary English Version
This Great Way of Being Saved
2 We must give our full attention to what we were told, so we won't drift away. 2 The message spoken by angels proved to be true, and all who disobeyed or rejected it were punished as they deserved. 3 So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? The Lord himself was the first to tell about it, and people who heard the message proved to us that it was true. 4 God himself showed that his message was true by working all kinds of powerful miracles and wonders. He also gave his Holy Spirit to anyone he chose to.
The One Who Leads Us To Be Saved
5 We know that God did not put the future world under the power of angels. 6 (A) Somewhere in the Scriptures someone says to God,
“What makes you care
about us humans?
Why are you concerned
for weaklings such as we?
7 You made us lower
than the angels
for a while.
Yet you have crowned us
with glory and honor.[a]
8 And you have put everything
under our power!”
God has put everything under our power and has not left anything out of our power. But we still don't see it all under our control. 9 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels. Because of God's gift of undeserved grace, Jesus died for everyone. And now that Jesus has suffered and died, he is crowned with glory and honor!
10 Everything belongs to God, and all things were created by his power. So God did the right thing when he made Jesus perfect by suffering, as Jesus led many of God's children to be saved and to share in his glory. 11 Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. This is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 12 (B) He even said to God,
“I will tell them your name
and sing your praises
when they come together
to worship.”
13 (C) He also said,
“I will trust God.”
Then he said,
“Here I am with the children
God has given me.”
14 We are people of flesh and blood. This is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. 15 But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying. 16 (D) Jesus clearly did not come to help angels, but he did come to help Abraham's descendants. 17 He had to be one of us, so he could serve God as our merciful and faithful high priest and sacrifice himself for the forgiveness of our sins. 18 And now that Jesus has suffered and was tempted, he can help anyone else who is tempted.
Footnotes
- 2.7 and honor: Some manuscripts add “and you have placed us in charge of all you created.”
Hebrews 2
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,
“(P)What is man, that You think of him?
Or a son of man, that You are concerned about him?
7 (Q)You have made him [h]for a little while lower than angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor[i];
8 (R)You have put everything in subjection under his feet.”
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,
“(AH)I will proclaim Your name to My brothers,
In the midst of the assembly I will sing Your praise.”
13 And again,
“(AI)I will put My trust in Him.”
And again,
“(AJ)Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”
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.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:1 Lit the things that have been heard
- Hebrews 2:2 Or steadfast
- Hebrews 2:2 Lit retribution
- Hebrews 2:3 Lit Which was
- Hebrews 2:4 Or works of power
- Hebrews 2:4 Lit distributions
- Hebrews 2:5 Lit the inhabited earth
- Hebrews 2:7 Or ...him a little lower than...
- Hebrews 2:7 One early ms continues, and have appointed him over the works of Your hands
- Hebrews 2:9 Or a little lower
- Hebrews 2:10 Or leader
- Hebrews 2:11 Or being sanctified
- Hebrews 2:14 Lit blood and flesh
- Hebrews 2:16 Lit take hold of angels, but He takes hold of
- Hebrews 2:16 Lit seed
- Hebrews 2:17 Lit was obligated to be
- Hebrews 2:17 I.e., reconciliation with God by atoning for the sins
- Hebrews 2:18 Or tested
- Hebrews 2:18 Or tested
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