Hebrews 2
Contemporary English Version
This Great Way of Being Saved
2 We must give our full attention to what we were told, so we won't drift away. 2 The message spoken by angels proved to be true, and all who disobeyed or rejected it were punished as they deserved. 3 So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? The Lord himself was the first to tell about it, and people who heard the message proved to us that it was true. 4 God himself showed that his message was true by working all kinds of powerful miracles and wonders. He also gave his Holy Spirit to anyone he chose to.
The One Who Leads Us To Be Saved
5 We know that God did not put the future world under the power of angels. 6 (A) Somewhere in the Scriptures someone says to God,
“What makes you care
about us humans?
Why are you concerned
for weaklings such as we?
7 You made us lower
than the angels
for a while.
Yet you have crowned us
with glory and honor.[a]
8 And you have put everything
under our power!”
God has put everything under our power and has not left anything out of our power. But we still don't see it all under our control. 9 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels. Because of God's gift of undeserved grace, Jesus died for everyone. And now that Jesus has suffered and died, he is crowned with glory and honor!
10 Everything belongs to God, and all things were created by his power. So God did the right thing when he made Jesus perfect by suffering, as Jesus led many of God's children to be saved and to share in his glory. 11 Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. This is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 12 (B) He even said to God,
“I will tell them your name
and sing your praises
when they come together
to worship.”
13 (C) He also said,
“I will trust God.”
Then he said,
“Here I am with the children
God has given me.”
14 We are people of flesh and blood. This is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. 15 But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying. 16 (D) Jesus clearly did not come to help angels, but he did come to help Abraham's descendants. 17 He had to be one of us, so he could serve God as our merciful and faithful high priest and sacrifice himself for the forgiveness of our sins. 18 And now that Jesus has suffered and was tempted, he can help anyone else who is tempted.
Footnotes
- 2.7 and honor: Some manuscripts add “and you have placed us in charge of all you created.”
Hebrews 2
King James Version
2 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.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 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;
4 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?
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 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?
7 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:
8 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.
9 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.
Hebrews 2
English Standard Version
Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since (A)the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and (B)every transgression or disobedience received a just (C)retribution, 3 (D)how shall we escape if we (E)neglect such a great salvation? It was (F)declared at first by the Lord, and it was (G)attested to us (H)by those who heard, 4 (I)while God also bore witness (J)by signs and wonders and various miracles and by (K)gifts of the Holy Spirit (L)distributed according to his will.
The Founder of Salvation
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world (M)to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
(N)“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,[a]
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, (O)we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him (P)who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, (Q)crowned with glory and honor (R)because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might (S)taste death (T)for everyone.
10 For it (U)was fitting that he, (V)for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons (W)to glory, should make the (X)founder of their salvation (Y)perfect through suffering. 11 For (Z)he who sanctifies and (AA)those who are sanctified (AB)all have one source.[b] That is why he is not ashamed to call them (AC)brothers,[c] 12 saying,
(AD)“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the (AE)congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And again,
(AF)“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise (AI)partook of the same things, that (AJ)through death he might (AK)destroy (AL)the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who (AM)through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he (AN)helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had (AO)to be made like his brothers in every respect, (AP)so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest (AQ)in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered (AR)when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:7 Some manuscripts insert and set him over the works of your hands
- Hebrews 2:11 Greek all are of one
- Hebrews 2:11 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 12
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