Young's Literal Translation YLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 Because of this it behoveth [us] more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside,
1
It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off.
2 for if the word being spoken through messengers did become stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience did receive a just recompense,
2
If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything,
3 how shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation? which a beginning receiving -- to be spoken through the Lord -- by those having heard was confirmed to us,
3
do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him.
4 God also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will.
4
All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit.
5 For not to messengers did He subject the coming world, concerning which we speak,
5
God didn't put angels in charge of this business of salvation that we're dealing with here.
6 and one in a certain place did testify fully, saying, `What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or a son of man, that Thou dost look after him?
6
It says in Scripture, What is man and woman that you bother with them; why take a second look their way?
7 Thou didst make him some little less than messengers, with glory and honour Thou didst crown him, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands,
7
You made them not quite as high as angels, bright with Eden's dawn light;
8 all things Thou didst put in subjection under his feet,' for in the subjecting to him the all things, nothing did He leave to him unsubjected, and now not yet do we see the all things subjected to him,
8
Then you put them in charge of your entire handcrafted world.
9 and him who was made some little less than messengers we see -- Jesus -- because of the suffering of the death, with glory and honour having been crowned, that by the grace of God for every one he might taste of death.
9
What we do see is Jesus, made "not quite as high as angels," and then, through the experience of death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory "bright with Eden's dawn light." In that death, by God's grace, he fully experienced death in every person's place.
10 For it was becoming to Him, because of whom [are] the all things, and through whom [are] the all things, many sons to glory bringing, the author of their salvation through sufferings to make perfect,
10
It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory.
11 for both he who is sanctifying and those sanctified [are] all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
11
Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn't hesitate to treat them as family,
12 saying, `I will declare Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of an assembly I will sing praise to Thee;' and again, `I will be trusting on Him;'
12
Saying, I'll tell my good friends, my brothers and sisters, all I know about you; I'll join them in worship and praise to you.
13 and again, `Behold I and the children that God did give to me.'
13
Again, he puts himself in the same family circle when he says, Even I live by placing my trust in God. And yet again, I'm here with the children God gave me.
14 Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death -- that is, the devil --
14
Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death
15 and might deliver those, whoever, with fear of death, throughout all their life, were subjects of bondage,
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and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death.
16 for, doubtless, of messengers it doth not lay hold, but of seed of Abraham it layeth hold,
16
It's obvious, of course, that he didn't go to all this trouble for angels. It was for people like us, children of Abraham.
17 wherefore it did behove him in all things to be made like to the brethren, that he might become a kind and stedfast chief-priest in the things with God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people,
17
That's why he had to enter into every detail of human life. Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people's sins,
18 for in that he suffered, himself being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
18
he would have already experienced it all himself - all the pain, all the testing - and would be able to help where help was needed.