1:9a

You have loved righteousness: The clause You have loved righteousness indicates that God’s Son is devoted to what is right and just. He does what is right, and he is pleased when other people do what is right. In this context the clause probably refers to how God’s Son rules people justly in his kingdom. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

You love what is right (Good News Translation)
-or-
All that is right is what you have valued
-or-
Every work/action which is good is what pleases you very much.

You have loved: The pronoun You is singular and refers to God’s Son, the Christ. The verb have loved refers to the attitude that God’s Son has always had and still has. He has always loved righteousness, and he continues to love it. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

you love
-or-
you have ⌊always⌋ loved

righteousness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteousness refers here to doing what is just and right according to a standard. In the Bible the standard of justice is determined by God.

In this context righteousness probably refers specifically to the way that God’s Son rules people with justice. This fits with 1:8 that speaks of his kingdom and way of ruling. Some ways to translate righteousness in this context are:

All that is good
-or-
what is right (Good News Translation)
-or-
justice (Contemporary English Version)

For more information, see just, sense C3, in Key Biblical Terms.

and hated wickedness: The phrase and hated wickedness indicates that God’s Son detests evil and rejects it. Some other ways to translate the phrase are:

and you reject/detest actions that are lawless
-or-
You are disgusted with evil behavior.

wickedness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wickedness is literally “lawlessness.” In the Bible it refers to not respecting or obeying God’s law. Some other ways to translate it are:

evil (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
what is wrong (God’s Word)
-or-
lawlessness (Revised Standard Version)

For more information, see “lawlessness” under sin, other words to compare, in Key Biblical Terms.

1:9b–c

In 1:9b–c God continued to speak directly to his Son. In some languages it is necessary to indicate this by using first person pronouns like “I.” For example:

I, your God, have chosen you. I appointed you…. (Contemporary English Version)

God…has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy: The custom of anointing with oil is used here in a figurative way. When kings and priests were appointed, oil was poured on their heads to dedicate them to God for their work. It was a joyful occasion. In this verse the emphasis is on the joy (joy) and honor that God gave to his Son.

Some other ways to translate the clause are:

• Translate the figure of speech and indicate its meaning. For example:

God blessed you more than your companions and anointed you with oil, ⌊the symbol of⌋ joy.
-or-
God honored you more than your companions: he poured oil on you and made you glad.

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

God…has given you the joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions. (Good News Translation)

Translate the meaning in a natural way in your language.

1:9b

therefore: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as therefore means “because of this,” “for this reason.” It introduces what happened because God’s Son loved righteousness and hated wickedness (1:9a). Indicate this result in a natural way in your language.

God, Your God: In the phrase God, Your God, the word God is repeated for emphasis. The phrase Your God indicates that God is the One whom Christ the Son honors as God. The context also indicates that God has honored the Son.

The phrase Your God does not mean “the God you possess.” If a literal translation of Your God has a wrong meaning in your language, you may need to express the meaning in a different way. For example, in this context you may be able to say:

God who honors you
-or-
God whom you honor/obey

Your: The pronoun Your is singular and refers to Christ, the Son of God.

1:9c

companions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as companions means “those who share or participate together” in something. The word occurs five times in Hebrews, once in Luke, and six times in the Greek OT (LXX). The author was probably referring here to the angels. In this whole section he was comparing Christ with the angels. Some ways to translate the word here are:

comrades
-or-
everyone else

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