1 Long ago God spoke to our forefathers by means of the prophets on many occasions and in many ways.+ 2 Now at the end of these days he has spoken to us by means of a Son,+ whom he appointed heir of all things,+ and through whom he made the systems of things.*+ 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory+ and the exact representation of his very being,+ and he sustains all things by the word of his power. And after he had made a purification for our sins,+ he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.+ 4 So he has become better than the angels+ to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs.+
5 For example, to which one of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; today I have become your father”?+ And again: “I will become his father, and he will become my son”?+ 6 But when he again brings his Firstborn+ into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.”*
7 Also, he says about the angels: “He makes his angels spirits, and his ministers*+ a flame of fire.”+ 8 But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne+ forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness.* 9 You loved righteousness, and you hated lawlessness. That is why God, your God, anointed you+ with the oil of exultation more than your companions.”+ 10 And: “At the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you will remain; and just like a garment, they will all wear out, 12 and you will wrap them up just as a cloak, as a garment, and they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never come to an end.”+
13 But about which of the angels has he ever said: “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet”?+ 14 Are they not all spirits for holy service,*+ sent out to minister for those who are going to inherit salvation?
2 That is why it is necessary for us to pay more than the usual attention to the things we have heard,+ so that we never drift away.+ 2 For if the word spoken through angels+ proved to be sure, and every transgression and disobedient act received a punishment in harmony with justice,+ 3 how will we escape if we have neglected so great a salvation?+ For it began to be spoken through our Lord+ and was verified for us by those who heard him, 4 while God joined in bearing witness with signs and wonders* and various powerful works+ and with the holy spirit distributed according to his will.+
5 For it is not to angels that he has subjected the inhabited earth to come,+ about which we are speaking. 6 But in one place a certain witness said: “What is man that you keep him in mind, or a son of man that you take care of him?+ 7 You made him a little lower than angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and appointed him over the works of your hands. 8 All things you subjected under his feet.”+ By subjecting all things to him,+ God left nothing that is not subject to him.+ Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him.+ 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than angels,+ now crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death,+ so that by God’s undeserved kindness he might taste death for everyone.+
10 For it was fitting that the one for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory,+ should make the Chief Agent of their salvation+ perfect through sufferings.+ 11 For both the one who is sanctifying and those who are being sanctified+ all stem from one,+ and for this reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers,+ 12 as he says: “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you with song.”+ 13 And again: “I will put my trust in him.”+ And again: “Look! I and the young children, whom Jehovah* gave me.”+
14 Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly shared in the same things,+ so that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death,+ that is, the Devil,+ 15 and that he might set free* all those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.+ 16 For it is not really angels he is assisting, but he is assisting Abraham’s offspring.*+ 17 Consequently, he had to become like his “brothers” in all respects,+ so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, in order to offer a propitiatory sacrifice*+ for the sins of the people.+ 18 Since he himself has suffered when being put to the test,+ he is able to come to the aid of those who are being put to the test.+
3 Consequently, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling,*+ consider the apostle and high priest whom we acknowledge*—Jesus.+ 2 He was faithful to the One who appointed him,+ just as Moses also was in all the house of that One.+ 3 For he* is counted worthy of more glory+ than Moses, since the one who constructs a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 Of course, every house is constructed by someone, but the one who constructed all things is God. 5 Now Moses was faithful as an attendant in all the house of that One as a testimony* of the things that were to be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ was faithful as a son+ over God’s house. We are His house+ if, indeed, we hold on firmly to our freeness of speech and the hope of which we boast down to the end.
7 Therefore, just as the holy spirit says,+ “Today if you listen to his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as on the occasion of provoking to bitter anger, as in the day of testing in the wilderness,+ 9 where your forefathers put me to the test and tried me, despite seeing my works for 40 years.+ 10 This is why I became disgusted with this generation and said: ‘They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not come to know my ways.’ 11 So I swore in my anger: ‘They will not enter into my rest.’”+
12 Beware, brothers, for fear there should ever develop in any one of you a wicked heart lacking faith by drawing away from the living God;+ 13 but keep on encouraging one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,”+ so that none of you should become hardened by the deceptive power of sin. 14 For we actually become partakers of* the Christ only if we hold firmly down to the end the confidence we had at the beginning.+ 15 As it is said, “Today if you listen to his voice, do not harden your hearts as on the occasion of provoking to bitter anger.”+
16 For who heard and yet provoked him to bitter anger? Was it not, in fact, all those who went out of Egypt under Moses?+ 17 Moreover, with whom did God become disgusted for 40 years?+ Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?+ 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter into his rest? Was it not to those who acted disobediently? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of lack of faith.+
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