1 T herefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them.

Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past and slip away.

2 F or if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;

For if the message given through angels was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an appropriate (just and adequate) penalty,

3 h ow shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;

How shall we escape if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation ? For it was declared at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real and genuine by those who personally heard.

4 G od also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.

it was also established and plainly endorsed by God, Who showed His approval of it by signs and wonders and various miraculous manifestations of power and by imparting the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

5 F or not unto angels did he subject the world to come, whereof we speak.

For it was not to angels that God subjected the habitable world of the future, of which we are speaking.

6 B ut one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him?

7 T hou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:

For some little time You have ranked him lower than and inferior to the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands,

8 T hou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.

For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to man, He left nothing outside control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

9 B ut we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.

But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God He might experience death for every individual person.

10 F or it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For it was an act worthy and fitting that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

11 F or both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

For both He Who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren;

12 s aying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise.

For He says, I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You.

13 A nd again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me.

And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me.

14 S ince then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Since, therefore, children share in flesh and blood, He in a similar manner partook of the same, that by death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death—that is, the devil—

15 a nd might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives.

16 F or verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.

For, as we all know, He did not take hold of angels '> the fallen angels, to give them a helping and delivering hand], but He did take hold of '> the fallen] descendants of Abraham.

17 W herefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins.

18 F or in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

For because He Himself has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried.