For to which of the angels did he say at any time, "You are my Son. Today have I become your father?" and again, "I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?"

You have been a lover of righteousness and a hater of evil; and so God, your God, has put the oil of joy on your head more than on the heads of those who are with you.

And, "You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

They will come to their end; but you are for ever; they will become old as a robe;

They will be rolled up like a cloth, even like a robe, and they will be changed: but you are the same and your years will have no end.

But of which of the angels has he said at any time, Take your seat at my right hand till I put all those who are against you under your feet?

Are not they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

how shall *we* escape if we are indifferent to a salvation as great as that now offered to us? This, after having first of all been announced by the Lord Himself, had its truth made sure to us by those who heard Him,

For he hath not subjected the future world, of which we are speaking, to the angels.

But one has [solemnly] testified somewhere [in Scripture], saying,

“What is man, that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man, that You graciously care for him?

You made him a little bit lower than the angels [i.e., a little less exalted]. [Note: Although these Psalms passages referred to mankind, they are here applied to Jesus. See verse 9]. You crowned him with splendor and honor {{some ancient manuscripts add "and placed him as ruler over what you made"}}.

thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." now since he has put all in subjection to him, he left nothing that is not subjected to him. however we do not see as yet that all things are put under him.

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

and again, "As for Me, I will be one whose trust reposes in God;" and again, "Here am I, and here are the children God has given Me."

Since 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;

For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Wherefore, christian brethren, you who are called to an heavenly inheritance, consider the apostle and high priest of the faith we profess, even Christ Jesus;

Besides, while Moses was faithful in every department of God's house as an attendant ??by way of witness to the coming revelation ??6 Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. Now we are this house of God, if we will only keep confident and proud of our hope.

but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope.

Wherefore I was provoked against that generation, and said, They are always deluded in heart, and they have not known my ways:

For we are partakers with Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end;

For we are hearing the same gospel preached as they did; but the word heard did not profit them, not being incorporated by faith with those who heard it.

We are actually entering into that rest, we who have believed, as God has said,??n my wrath I swore??They shall not enter into my Rest

Since then it still remains that some are being admitted to it and that those who first had the good news told to them were not admitted because of disobedience,

For all who are admitted to God's Rest rest after their work, just as God did after his.

There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.

So also Christ did not glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, "You are my Son. Today I have become your father."

As he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."

And when he had been made complete, he became the giver of eternal salvation to all those who are under his orders;

Concerning whom we have much to discourse, and of difficult interpretation to explain, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

For though ye ought for the time to be teachers of others, ye have again need that some one teach you the leading principles of the oracles of God; and are become as those who need milk, and not solid food.

By people who live on milk I mean those who are imperfectly acquainted with the teaching concerning righteousness.

But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

of teaching about washings (ritual purifications), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.]

[These are people] who were once enlightened [by the Gospel message], who had experienced the gift from heaven [i.e., forgiveness, never ending life, etc. See Rom. 6:23], who had partaken of the Holy Spirit [See Acts 2:38],

and have realized how good the word of God is and how mighty are the powers of the coming Age, and then fell away--

And who have fallen away, again, to be remoulding them into repentance; seeing they are again crucifying unto themselves the Son of God, and holding him up as an example.

For land which absorbs the rain that often falls on it, and bears plants that are useful to those for whom it is tilled, receives a blessing from God;

but that which bringeth forth thorns and briars, is rejected and near to a curse, (whose end is burning) so are they.

But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you showed for his cause, in sending help to your fellow Christians, as you are still doing.

but we desire that every one of you may shew the same concern, continuing to discharge the condition upon which your hopes are founded: that ye be not unactive,

that ye be not slothful, but imitators of those who, by faith and long suffering, are inheriting the promises.

which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Which hope also entereth in, into those things which are within the veil,

For they indeed of the sons of Levi, who are admitted to priesthood, have an order to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though also sprung from the loins of Abraham.

Mortal men collect tithes, but we are informed by Scripture that Melchizedek keeps on living.

Now if the crowning blessing was attainable by means of the Levitical priesthood--for as resting on this foundation the people received the Law, to which they are still subject-- what further need was there for a Priest of a different kind to be raised up belonging to the order of Melchizedek instead of being said to belong to the order of Aaron?

Because if the priests are changed, it is necessary to make a change in the law.

For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

for it is testified, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."

And inasmuch as it is not apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,

(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, "The Lord swore and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"

Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

Hence also he is able to continue saving to the uttermost those who are ever drawing near to God through him, seeing that he is ever living to intercede for them.

The law makes high priests of men who are feeble; but the word of the oath, which was made after the law, gives that position to a Son, in whom all good is for ever complete.

Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Now every high priest is given authority to take to God the things which are given and to make offerings; so that it is necessary for this man, like them, to have something for an offering.

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Law;

Who, indeed, are rendering divine service, with a glimpse and shadow, of the heavenly things; even as Moses hath received intimation, when about to complete the tent, - For see! saith he - Thou shalt make all things according to the model which hath been pointed out to thee in the mount.

But, as it is, the priestly service to which Christ has been appointed is as much better than the old as the agreement established by him and the promises on which it is based are superior to the former ones.

For finding fault with them, he saith, "Behold, the days are coming, saith the Lord; and I will accomplish for the house of Israel and for the house of Judah a new covenant:

and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we are not now to speak particularly.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,

which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect;

but deal only with foods and drinks and various washings; they are regulations for the flesh imposed until the time of setting things right.

But when Christ appeared as a High Priest of the good things to come [that is, true spiritual worship], He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not a part of this [material] creation.

For if the blood of bulls and goats and a heifer's ashes sprinkling those who are ceremonially unclean purifies them with physical cleansing,

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that, death being suffered for the redemption of transgressions committed against the first testament, they who are called might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.

For a testament is valid when men are dead; for else it is of no efficacy whilst the testator is alive.

And almost all things are purified by blood according to the law, and without effusion of blood there is no remission of sin.

For this cause it was necessary to make the copies of the things in heaven clean with these offerings; but the things themselves are made clean with better offerings than these.

For Christ hasn't entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

And just as men are destined to die once and after that to be judged,

so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.

For since the law cast only a shadow of the blessings to come and did not possess the reality itself of those blessings, the priests with the same sacrifices that are perpetually offered year after year cannot make perfect those who come to worship.

But on the other hand, in these sacrifices sins are called to memory, year after year.

Previously saying, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you did not desire, neither had pleasure in them" (those which are offered according to the Law),

and then there is added-- 'See, I have come to do thy will.' The former sacrifices are set aside to be replaced by the latter.

By the which will we are sanctified through the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.

And every priest takes his place at the altar day by day, doing what is necessary, and making again and again the same offerings which are never able to take away sins.

from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.

For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

But when these are forgiven, there is no more need of offerings for sin.

not forsaking our own congregation as some are in the habit of [doing], but exhorting [others], and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

Call to remembrance the days that are passed in the which, after ye had received light, ye endured a great fight in adversities,

but you will need endurance if you are to carry out God's will and receive the blessing he has promised.

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the sign that the things not seen are true.

By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

now without faith it is impossible to please him; for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he ever rewards those who are seeking.

for he had in view the city, whose foundations are sure, the architect and founder being God.

Therefore indeed they were born of one, and those things of one having died, as the stars of heaven for multitude, and as the sands which are by the sea, which are innumerable.

In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted them, and having confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth,

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

But now their longing desires are after a better country, that is, the heavenly one: wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he hath prepared a city for them.

For he counted 'the reproaches that are heaped upon the Christ' of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, looking forward, as he did, to the reward awaiting him.