Hebrews 1:1-2:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
God Has Spoken by His Son
1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,[a] whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.(A) 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains[b] all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for[c] sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,(B) 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.(C)
The Son Is Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did God[d] ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?(D)
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds
and his servants flames of fire.”(E)
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is[e] forever and ever,
and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your[f] kingdom.(F)
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;[g]
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”(G)
10 And,
“In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;(H)
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like clothing;(I)
12 like a cloak you will roll them up,
and like clothing[h] they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?(J)
14 Are not all angels[i] spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?(K)
Warning to Pay Attention
2 Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message declared through angels proved valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty,(L) 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed for us by those who heard him,(M) 4 while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.(N)
Exaltation through Abasement
5 Now God[j] did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.(O) 6 But someone has testified somewhere,
“What are humans that you are mindful of them[k]
or mortals that you care for them?[l](P)
7 You have made them for a little while lower[m] than the angels;
you have crowned them with glory and honor,[n]
8 subjecting all things under their feet.”
Now in subjecting all things to them, God[o] left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them,(Q) 9 but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower[p] than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God[q] he might taste death for everyone.(R)
10 It was fitting that God,[r] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.(S) 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[s] For this reason Jesus[t] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,(T) 12 saying,
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”(U)
Footnotes
- 1.2 Or the Son
- 1.3 Or bears along
- 1.3 Other ancient authorities add our
- 1.5 Greek he
- 1.8 Or God is your throne
- 1.8 Other ancient authorities read his
- 1.9 Other ancient authorities read wickedness
- 1.12 Other ancient authorities lack like clothing
- 1.14 Gk all of them
- 2.5 Gk he
- 2.6 Gk What is man that you are mindful of him?
- 2.6 Gk or the son of man that you care for him? In the Hebrew of Psalm 8.4–6 both man and son of man refer to all humankind
- 2.7 Or them only a little lower
- 2.7 Other ancient authorities add and set them over the works of your hands
- 2.8 Gk he
- 2.9 Or who was made a little lower
- 2.9 Other ancient authorities read apart from God
- 2.10 Gk he
- 2.11 Gk are all of one
- 2.11 Gk he
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.