Give Heed

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. For if the word (B)spoken through (C)angels proved [b]unalterable, and (D)every transgression and disobedience received a just [c](E)penalty, (F)how will we escape if we neglect so great a (G)salvation? [d]After it was at the first (H)spoken through the Lord, it was (I)confirmed to us by those who heard, 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

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

(P)What is man, that You remember him?
Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?
(Q)You have made him [h]for a little while lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
[i]And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;
(R)You have put all things 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

But we do see Him who was (T)made [j]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, (U)because of the suffering of 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)author 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 which reason He is not ashamed to call them (AG)brethren, 12 saying,

(AH)I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
In the midst of the congregation 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, that (AM)through death He might render powerless (AN)him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through (AO)fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not [n]give help to angels, but He gives help to the [o]descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He [p]had (AP)to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might (AQ)become a merciful and faithful (AR)high priest in (AS)things pertaining to God, to (AT)make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was (AU)tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:1 Lit the things that have been heard
  2. Hebrews 2:2 Or steadfast
  3. Hebrews 2:2 Or recompense
  4. Hebrews 2:3 Lit Which was
  5. Hebrews 2:4 Or works of power
  6. Hebrews 2:4 Lit distributions
  7. Hebrews 2:5 Lit the inhabited earth
  8. Hebrews 2:7 Or ...him a little lower than...
  9. Hebrews 2:7 Two early mss do not contain And...hands
  10. Hebrews 2:9 Or a little lower
  11. Hebrews 2:10 Or leader
  12. Hebrews 2:11 Or being sanctified
  13. Hebrews 2:14 Lit blood and flesh
  14. Hebrews 2:16 Lit take hold of angels, but He takes hold of
  15. Hebrews 2:16 Lit seed
  16. Hebrews 2:17 Lit was obligated to be

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Because of this it behoveth [us] more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside,

for if the word being spoken through messengers did become stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience did receive a just recompense,

how shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation? which a beginning receiving -- to be spoken through the Lord -- by those having heard was confirmed to us,

God also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will.

For not to messengers did He subject the coming world, concerning which we speak,

and one in a certain place did testify fully, saying, `What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or a son of man, that Thou dost look after him?

Thou didst make him some little less than messengers, with glory and honour Thou didst crown him, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands,

all things Thou didst put in subjection under his feet,' for in the subjecting to him the all things, nothing did He leave to him unsubjected, and now not yet do we see the all things subjected to him,

and him who was made some little less than messengers we see -- Jesus -- because of the suffering of the death, with glory and honour having been crowned, that by the grace of God for every one he might taste of death.

10 For it was becoming to Him, because of whom [are] the all things, and through whom [are] the all things, many sons to glory bringing, the author of their salvation through sufferings to make perfect,

11 for both he who is sanctifying and those sanctified [are] all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 saying, `I will declare Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of an assembly I will sing praise to Thee;' and again, `I will be trusting on Him;'

13 and again, `Behold I and the children that God did give to me.'

14 Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death -- that is, the devil --

15 and might deliver those, whoever, with fear of death, throughout all their life, were subjects of bondage,

16 for, doubtless, of messengers it doth not lay hold, but of seed of Abraham it layeth hold,

17 wherefore it did behove him in all things to be made like to the brethren, that he might become a kind and stedfast chief-priest in the things with God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people,

18 for in that he suffered, himself being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.