Hebrews 1

Contemporary English Version

1 Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. ²^(A) But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. ³^(B) God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together.

After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side^[a] of the glorious God in heaven. ⁴He had become much greater than the angels, and the name he was given is far greater than any of theirs.

God's Son Is Greater than Angels

⁵^(C) God has never said
    to any of the angels,
“You are my Son, because today
    I have become your Father!”
Neither has God said
    to any of them,
“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son!”

⁶^(D) When God brings his first-born Son^[b] into the world, he commands all of his angels to worship him.

⁷^(E) And when God speaks about the angels, he says,

“I change my angels into wind
and my servants
into flaming fire.”

⁸^(F) But God says about his Son,

“You are God,
and you will rule
    as King forever!
Your^[c] royal power
    brings about justice.
⁹You loved justice
    and hated evil,
and so I, your God,
    have chosen you.
I appointed you
and made you happier
    than any of your friends.”

¹⁰^(G) The Scriptures also say,

“In the beginning, Lord,
    you were the one
who laid the foundation
of the earth
    and created the heavens.
¹¹They will all disappear
and wear out like clothes,
    but you will last forever.
¹²You will roll them up
    like a robe
and change them
    like a garment.
But you are always the same,
    and you will live forever.”

¹³^(H) God never said to any
of the angels,
“Sit at my right side
until I make your enemies
into a footstool for you!”

¹⁴^(I) Angels are merely spirits sent to serve people who are going to be saved.

Footnotes

1.3 right side: The place of honor and power.
1.6 first-born Son: The first son born into a family had certain privileges that the other children did not have. In 12.23 (see note) “first-born” refers to God's special people.
1.8 Your: Some manuscripts have “His.”