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

God Has Spoken by His Son

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 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) 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) 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

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)

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds
    and his servants flames of fire.”(E)

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)
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)

Footnotes

  1. 1.2 Or the Son
  2. 1.3 Or bears along
  3. 1.3 Other ancient authorities add our
  4. 1.5 Greek he
  5. 1.8 Or God is your throne
  6. 1.8 Other ancient authorities read his
  7. 1.9 Other ancient authorities read wickedness
  8. 1.12 Other ancient authorities lack like clothing
  9. 1.14 Gk all of them