The Nature of the Son

Long ago God spoke(A) to our ancestors by the prophets(B) at different times and in different ways.(C) In these last days,(D) he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things(E) and made the universe[a](F) through him. The Son is the radiance[b] of God’s glory and the exact expression[c] of his nature,(G) sustaining all things by his powerful word.(H) After making purification for sins,[d] he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[e](I) So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.(J)

The Son Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did he ever say,

You are my Son;
today I have become your Father,[f][g]

or again,

I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son?[h](K)

Again, when he[i] brings his firstborn into the world,(L) he says,

And let all God’s angels worship him.[j](M)

And about the angels he says:

He makes his angels winds,[k]
and his servants[l] a fiery flame,[m](N)

but to[n] the Son:

Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.(O)
You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, your God,
has anointed you
with the oil of joy(P)
beyond your companions.[o][p]

10 And:

In the beginning, Lord,
you established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;(Q)
11 they will perish, but you remain.
They will all wear out like clothing;(R)
12 you will roll them up like a cloak,[q]
and they will be changed like clothing.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.[r](S)

13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool?[s](T)

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?(U)

Footnotes

  1. 1:2 Lit ages
  2. 1:3 Or reflection
  3. 1:3 Or representation, or copy, or reproduction
  4. 1:3 Other mss read for our sins by himself
  5. 1:3 Or he sat down on high at the right hand of the Majesty
  6. 1:5 Or have begotten you
  7. 1:5 Ps 2:7
  8. 1:5 2Sm 7:14; 1Ch 17:13
  9. 1:6 Or When he again
  10. 1:6 Dt 32:43 LXX; Ps 97:7
  11. 1:7 Or spirits
  12. 1:7 Or ministers
  13. 1:7 Ps 104:4
  14. 1:8 Or about
  15. 1:9 Or associates
  16. 1:8–9 Ps 45:6–7
  17. 1:12 Other mss omit like a cloak
  18. 1:10–12 Ps 102:25–27
  19. 1:13 Ps 110:1

 神借着儿子说话

 神在古时候,曾经多次用种种方法,借着先知向我们的祖先说话; 在这末后的日子,却借着他的儿子向我们说话。 神已经立他作万有的承受者,并且借着他创造了宇宙(“宇宙”或译:“诸世界”或“众世代”)。 他是 神荣耀的光辉,是 神本质的真象,用自己带有能力的话掌管万有;他作成了洁净罪恶的事,就坐在高天至尊者的右边。 他所承受的名比天使的名更尊贵,所以他远比天使崇高。

 神的儿子比天使崇高

 神曾对哪一个天使说过:

“你是我的儿子,

我今日生了你”呢?

或者说:

“我要作他的父亲,

他要作我的儿子”呢?

 神差遣长子到世上来的时候,又说:

“ 神所有的天使都要拜他。”

论到天使,说:

“ 神以他的天使为风,

以他的仆役为火焰。”

但是论到儿子,却说:

“ 神啊!你的宝座是永永远远的,

你国的权杖,是公平的权杖。

你喜爱公义,恨恶不法,

所以, 神,就是你的 神,

用喜乐的油膏抹你,胜过膏抹你的同伴。”

10 又说:

“主啊!你起初立了地的根基,

天也是你手的工作。

11 天地都要毁灭,你却长存;

天地都要像衣服一样渐渐残旧,

12 你要把天地像外套一样卷起来,

天地就像衣服一样被更换;

只有你永不改变,

你的年数也没有穷尽。”

13  神可曾向哪一个天使说:

“你坐在我的右边,

等我使你的仇敌作你的脚凳”呢?

14 天使不都是服役的灵,奉差遣为那些要承受救恩的人效劳吗?